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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT, 



Union Work 



A Manual for Local, Comity, District, 
and State Christian Endeavor Unions 



By 
AMOS R. WELLS 

Editorial Secretary of the United Society 
of Christian Endeavor 




Boston and Chicago 
United Society of Christian Endeavor 



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Copyrighted, 191 6, 

by the 

United Society of Christian Endeavor 



LC 

1 

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Control Number 
p96 027675 


>CI.A438402 


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PREFACE 

This book takes the place of " Our Unions " in the 
list of publications of the United Society of Christian 
Endeavor, but it is not a revision of that volume. 
" Union Work " is a new book from beginning to end, 
every sentence appearing here for the first time. Since 
" Our Unions " was written, twenty years ago, Christian 
Endeavor unions have obtained a remarkable develop- 
ment, calling for an entirely new manual. An indica- 
tion of this development is the present volume, which, 
though strictly condensed, is three times as large as 
" Our Unions," and treats many important subjects 
which are not even mentioned in the former manual 
because they had not yet been introduced in union 
work. 

It is hoped that many unions will form their officers 
and leading workers into classes for the study of this 
book under enthusiastic leaders. To facilitate this class 
work each chapter is followed by a set of questions 
upon it, with subjects for talks, essays, and debates. 

It is the aim of this book to present a picture of 
Christian Endeavor unions in their manifold present- 
day activities, to set forth the methods of work that 
have been found most useful, and to make manifest the 
value of our unions to the societies, the churches, and 
the community. They train the Endeavorers in many 
modes of co-operation and in the management of large 
affairs, thus furnishing to the churches for their widest 
interests a splendid body of skilled workers. In most 

3 



4 PEEFACE 

communities they are the only interdenominational 
agencies at work along many important lines, thus 
drawing the churches together and doing much for the 
uplift of their towns and cities. This book is dedicated 
to the thousands of Christian Endeavor union officers 
throughout the world, whose deep devotion and fine 
ability are doing so much for the kingdom of God. 
May they find in these pages not only practical di- 
rections for their tasks, but the inspiration for new zeal 
and larger endeavors. 

Amos E. Wells. 

Boston, Massachusetts, 






CONTENTS 



How to Organize a Christian En- 
deavor Union 



CHAPTER 
I. 

II. The Union Constitution 

III. The Union President . 

IV. The Union Vice-President 
V. The Union Secretary . 

VI. The Field Secretary . 

VII. Union Finances 

VIII. TnE Union Executive Committee 

IX. The Union Strengthening the So 

cieties 

X. Union Work for the Churches 

XI. Union Work for Missions . 

XII. Union Work for Soul-Saving 

XIII. Union Bible Study 

XIV. Union Civic and Temperance Work 
XV. The Union Socials . . • . 

XVI. The Union Music .... 

XVII. Union Publicity .... 

XVIII. The Union Literature Committee 

XIX. Union Work for Juniors and Inter 
mediates . . 

XX. The Introduction Committee 

XXI. Union Work for Prisoners . 

5 



7 
16 
29 
42 
48 
57 
66 
75 

85 
102 
111 
126 
132 
140 
150 
160 
172 
186 

195 

208 
214 



CONTENTS 



XXII. Union Work for Hospitals . . 223 

XXIII. Other Work That Unions May Do . 231 

XXIV. Union Committee Conferences . 235 

XXV. Preparing for and Utilizing a Con- 
tention 245 

XXVI. The Management of a Convention . 264 

XXVII. Union Programmes .... 278 

XXVIII. An Efficient Union .... 291 

Index ....... 303 



UNION WORK 



CHAPTER I 

HOW TO ORGANIZE A CHRISTIAN 
ENDEAVOR UNION 

Where May Unions Be Organized ? — It is often said, 
and said truly, that wherever there are two Christian 
Endeavor societies a Christian Endeavor union should 
be formed. Two societies, when co-operating in a union, 
can do far more than they could do separately. They 
will inspire each other to better work. They will teach 
each other all that each has learned about the best 
methods. They will be able to do much for the com- 
munity, for their churches, and for the world that they 
could not do separately. 

The union should include all the Christian Endeavor 
societies of the town or city, with the societies in the 
country round about that can attend meetings with the 
town societies, or that cannot more readily reach the 
meetings of any other union. Sometimes a country so- 
ciety may be nearer a city union belonging to another 
county than to the nearest city union of its own county, 
and it should join the union in the neighboring county. 
The new union will reach out as far as it can without 
trenching upon the proper territory of the nearest union. 
What this territory is should be determined by friendly 
consultation as soon as there is the least danger of over- 
lapping. 

7 



8 UNION WOEK 

Shall Any but Christian Endeavor Societies Be Ad- 
mitted to the Union ? — This question is sure to arise at 
some time, if not immediately. The answer depends 
upon the local circumstances. It must be remembered 
that the fundamental purpose of the union is to pro- 
mote Christian Endeavor work ; it is not to promote 
Christian fellowship in general, though that is an in- 
evitable result of Christian Endeavor work, nor is it 
merely for social enjoyment. Therefore it must not 
take any societies whose aims are not harmonious with 
those of Christian Endeavor. 

The new union must not include any society that is 
likely to prevent its being a Christian Endeavor union 
and promoting Christian Endeavor work. At the be- 
ginning of my own public Christian Endeavor work I 
was called to address a union in a city of considerable 
size. On my arrival I was told that I must not say 
anything about the Christian Endeavor pledge or any- 
thing else distinctively Christian Endeavor, for fear of 
offending a single society in the union which was not a 
Christian Endeavor society and whose denomination 
had its own separate young people's society. As was 
to have been expected, that union soon failed and 
ceased to exist. After some years it was revived as a 
Christian Endeavor union with none but Christian 
Endeavor societies, and has ever since been most pros- 
perous, entertaining the State convention and carrying 
on a splendid work for Christ and the Church. This 
experience illustrates the conditions under which no 
society that is not Christian Endeavor in name as well 
as spirit should be allowed to join a Christian Endeavor 
union. 

On the other hand, I myself as a union officer once 
advocated and voted for the inclusion in a union of a 



HOW TO ORGANIZE A UNION 9 

society which had been a thorough-going Christian 
Endeavor society, but, through the mistaken denomina- 
tionalism of its pastor, had been transformed into a 
young people's society of the separatist type. The 
young people wished to remain in the union, and were 
thoroughly in sympathy with Christian Endeavor, as 
they had proved by years of fine service. They re- 
mained, and the union was none the less Christian 
Endeavor because of their presence. This illustrates 
conditions under which we may safely admit into our 
Christian Endeavor unions societies of other names. In 
every such instance, however, the union leaders may 
well talk earnestly with the pastor of the society, and 
show him how his society can be just as loyal to its 
denomination if it has the interdenominational name as 
if it shut itself up with the denominational one. Urge 
upon him the duty of strengthening a great movement 
which has done more perhaps than any other to pro- 
mote real Christian union ; and it could never have 
done it with a multiplicity of names and a lot of 
separate organizations. 

Who Should Organize the Union? — The near-by 
Christian Endeavor union may well discover a chance 
for service in forming a new union. Its officers can 
speak from their own experience of the advantages of 
a union and the work it can do. Or, the union may 
be suggested by any officer or member of a local 
Christian Endeavor society. This Endeavorer will talk 
up the matter, especially among the Christian Endeavor 
leaders and the pastors, and he may himself call the 
preliminary meeting. Some one Christian Endeavor 
society may start the union, calling upon the other 
societies to join in forming it. Some pastor, under- 



10 UNION WOEK 

standing the value of Christian Endeavor unions, may- 
take the lead in forming one. Any one of these 
agencies, or all of them together, may make the move 
for a new Christian Endeavor union. 

Consultations. — Whoever sets the ball to rolling, the 
new union should not be started without much con- 
sultation. All the presidents and other leading officers 
of the societies should be consulted, and all the Chris- 
tian Endeavor pastors. Every one thus consulted is 
made to feel his importance, which is a pleasant feel- 
ing, and will henceforth be more interested in the union 
and realize a little better his responsibility for it. In 
this wide consultation you will probably meet with 
some objections, but it is far better to meet them at 
first and answer them than it is to allow them to come 
up later and clog the workings of the new union. 

The Preliminary Meeting. — Having obtained the 
hearty approval of all these whom you have consulted, 
or at least of the large majority of them, you will call 
a preliminary meeting, which will include every Chris- 
tian Endeavor pastor and all the officers of the Chris- 
tian Endeavor societies of the community, counting in 
every society which you wish to have in the union, 
rural societies as well as town societies. Give them all 
a chance to become charter members. 

At this meeting some one will describe fully the 
advantages to be gained from a Christian Endeavor 
union, and will answer questions about the workings 
of a union. After full discussion, the presiding officer 
will put the question, " How many are in favor of 
the formation of a Christian Endeavor union in this 
town ? " The question being carried, the first step will 



HOW TO OKGANIZE A UNION 11 

be the appointing of two committees, one to draw up a 
temporary constitution, and the other to nominate a 
set of officers such as the temporary constitution calls 
for. These two committees will be appointed with 
great care. A committee will be chosen to nominate 
them, and this committee should be large and repre- 
sentative. After their report has been adopted by the 
meeting, it may adjourn. 

The Tentative Constitution. — Of course the com- 
mittee on the tentative constitution will do what it can 
to make it so good that it will become the permanent 
constitution, though, even if it does its best, circum- 
stances are likely to arise making it necessary to change 
the constitution. But the committee will examine the 
constitutions of other unions, especially unions of about 
the size of the one to be formed, and in about the 
same circumstances. In general, simplicity is to be 
sought in a tentative constitution. Do not establish 
many departments at first. It is better to take up a 
few lines of work only, just the most important ones, 
and let the others develop slowly, as the workers be- 
come interested. Thus, for instance, if you have among 
the societies some one who is already interested in prison 
work and likely to become a good union leader in it, 
you might establish at once a prison-work committee ; 
but otherwise you would not. You will, however, 
want all the usual officers, not forgetting the pastoral 
counsellor, and you will want a lookout committee, a 
conference committee, a social committee, a music 
committee, and a finance committee. Consult the 
officers of near-by unions as to the excellencies and 
defects of their constitutions, and try to profit by their 
advice. 



12 UNION WOEK 

The First Officers. — Much depends upon the nomina- 
tions for the first set of officers. Indeed, if you cannot 
find a strong set of workers ready to take office in the 
new union, you would better not form it, but wait for 
a more propitious time. A union that has been long 
at work can endure poor leaders, though with difficulty ; 
they would kill a new union at the very outset. 

Very likely the nominating committee itself may 
contain much material for the first set of officers. If 
that is so, let no false modesty prevent the nomination 
of such persons, though they may well present to the 
meeting voting upon them a disclaimer of self-pushing. 
The union must be founded upon the spirit of self- 
sacrifice, if it is to endure. 

The First Mass Meeting. — When these two com- 
mittees are ready to report, you will summon all the 
members of all the Christian Endeavor societies in a 
mass meeting. Carefully fix upon an evening when 
they can all be there. Advertise it long in advance, 
so that you will have the evening clear. Make sure 
that all the Christian Endeavor pastors are present, 
if possible. Include all of them, if they are not too 
many, in the programme of the meeting for very brief 
speeches. It would be well to ask them to speak for 
one minute each on the advantages of a Christian En- 
deavor union, each dealing with only one advantage. 
The main address of the evening may be by some well- 
known Endeavorer, perhaps an officer of a prominent 
Christian Endeavor union. He will naturally tell 
about the various phases of union work as he has seen 
them developed, and will try to implant in the En- 
deavorers present a strong enthusiasm for co-operative 
Christian activity. Music will be provided in some 



HOW TO OKGANIZE A UNION 13 

variety, not by any means forgetting genuine Chris- 
tian Endeavor congregational singing. 

The chief object of the evening, however, for which 
plenty of time will be reserved, is the reading of the 
constitution and its full explanation, with answers of 
all questions that may be asked. You will vote upon 
it section by section, and then adopt the constitution as 
a whole. Following this you will present the nomina- 
tions for the offices, and they will be voted upon. It 
will be as well under the circumstances to instruct the 
secretary of the meeting to cast one vote for the 
nominees. The meeting will close with the presenta- 
tion of the president-elect and a few words by him, 
and with a brief prayer service asking for God's bless- 
ing upon the new undertaking. 

The Importance of the First Months. — The first few 
months of a Christian Endeavor union do much to 
determine at least its first years. If it is started wisely 
and with zeal, it is sure to do splendid work. If it is 
started sluggishly and with poor plans, it will give the 
Endeavorers a distaste for union work that will be 
overcome with great difficulty. All concerned should 
therefore labor with much fervor and with constant 
prayer during the opening period of the union, and 
should determine that, so far as they are concerned, 
co-operative Christian Endeavor shall be firmly estab- 
lished in their community. 

Where You May Make Mistakes. — The president of 
the new union will make a great mistake if he seeks to 
do it all, and does not work in all his officers. Failure 
to consult all who should be consulted, especially the 
pastoral counsellor, is another great mistake. Do not 



14 UNION WOKK 

rely upon brilliant speakers in your first meetings, but, 
while you get as good speakers as you can, bring into 
every meeting many of the local workers. Do not rely 
for success upon the public meetings of the union, but 
make the union practically helpful to the societies in 
the conducting of their local work. Do not fail to 
advertise everything well — only be sure that you have 
something worth advertising. Begin and end all meet- 
ings sharply on time. Do not allow any plan to fail. 
Undertake few things — only what you are sure you 
can push through to complete success. If you do make 
failures — and you can hardly expect not to make any 
— learn from them all the lessons they have to teach 
you, and so organize successes out of them. 

How to Insure Success.— Above all things, keep the 
union work upon the highest level of consecration. 
Carry on the union not to please yourself, but to please 
your divine Master. Form the most exalted ideals of 
union work, that it is to lead the societies to the fullest 
measure of Christian achievement possible for them. 
Keep these ideals always before yourself and before 
the societies, and allow no substitution of lower ideals. 
In other words, make it actually a Christian Endeavor 
union, a co-operative effort to do the will of Jesus 
Christ, and He will conduct it to a glorious and entire 
success. 



HOW TO OEGANIZE A UNION 15 



Class Work on Chapter I 

The Leader's Questions 
Where may a Christian Endeavor union be profitably 

formed ? 
Should a Christian Endeavor union contain any but 

Christian Endeavor societies ? 
Who should organize a Christian Endeavor union ? 
Who should be consulted before a new union is formed ? 
What should be done at the preliminary meeting ? 
What sort of constitution should be formed at first ? 
Why should the first officers be chosen with great 

care? 
How should the first meeting of the union be managed ? 
What are some of the mistakes to be guarded against 

in the first months of the new union ? 
How can union success be insured ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Advantages of Christian Endeavor Unions. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that Christian Endeavor unions should con- 
tain only Christian Endeavor societies. 



CHAPTER II 
THE UNION CONSTITUTION 

Begin Simply. — When starting a Christian Endeavor 
union it is best not to frame an elaborate constitution 
containing probably much for which the union will 
have at first no use whatever, but to make the constitu- 
tion very simple and add to it as the need for additions 
develops. Provide at first for only the ordinary officers 
and committees, unless you know that you will take 
up immediately some unusual line of work. Ordinarily 
at the start you will have enough to do merely to set 
going the customary union activities. 

The following forms of constitution for the various 
unions, city, district, and State, are therefore only the 
outlines of constitutions, to be filled in by each union 
as its own growth suggests and requires. In many 
directions, however, the outlines here given hint at the 
enlargements that will later inevitably be made if the 
union progresses. 

Suggested Constitution of a City or Local Christian 
Endeavor Union 

Article I. — Name 

This union shall be called the Christian 

Endeavor Union. [Note. — Local unions are generally 
named from the city or region which is their home, as 
the Chicago Christian Endeavor Union, the Merrimac 

16 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 17 

Valley Christian Endeavor Union ; but other names 
may be used, such as the Clark Christian Endeavor 
Union, the Williston Christian Endeavor Union, the 
Golden Rule Christian Endeavor Union of such a city 
or region.] 

Article II. — Object 
The object of the union shall be to stimulate interest 

in societies of Christian Endeavor in and 

vicinity, to increase their number, to develop the mu- 
tual acquaintance of their members, to introduce the 
best methods of work, to serve the churches and the 
community in appropriate ways, and thus to make the 
Endeavorers more useful in the service of God. 

Article III. — Members 
Any society of Christian Endeavor connected with 
an evangelical church, mission, or public institution 

in and vicinity, whose constitution in its 

aims and prayer-meeting obligations conforms generally 
in spirit to the " Model Constitution," may join this 
union by notifying the secretary and upon approval of 
the executive committee. 

Article IV. — Officers 
The officers shall be a president, a vice-president, a 
secretary, and a treasurer, chosen from the active mem- 
bers of the societies composing the union. Their duties 
shall be those usually appertaining to these offices. 
[Note. — The pastoral counsellor, if the union has one, 
should be regarded as an officer of the union in the 
fullest sense. Other officers may be added as the union 
develops, such as a librarian, an assistant treasurer, an 
editor.] 



18 UNION WOEK 

Article V. — Executive Committee 
The executive committee shall consist of the presi- 
dent, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and the chair- 
men of the various standing committees of the union. 
This committee shall meet as a rule on the first 

of each month, and at other times at the 

call of the president, and shall plan for the best in- 
terests of the union, and as far as possible see that 
these plans are executed. Between the meetings of 
the congress the executive committee shall be em- 
powered to transact business that requires immediate 
attention. [Note. — The pastoral counsellor and other 
officers that may be appointed by the union should be 
specified here. If the plan of a congress is not adopted, 
the presidents of the societies may be added to the 
executive committee, whose meetings will thus become 
essentially congress meetings.] 

Article VI. — The Congress 

1. A congress shall be constituted, consisting of the 
executive committee of the union and the president of 
each society in the union, with, if it is thought best, 
one other duly elected representative of each society. 
The congress shall discuss and transact the business of 
the union, and shall do its utmost to secure in every 
way the success of the union and of the individual 
societies. 

2. Meetings of the congress shall be held once a 
month (or once in two months), and simple re- 
freshments may be served if it is deemed best. 
[Note. — This section will be omitted, of course, if the 
functions of the congress devolve upon the executive 
committee; but in that case the executive committee 
should be enlarged as suggested above.] 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 19 

Article VII. — Lookout Committee 
A lookout committee shall be appointed, whose duty 
shall be to organize new societies wherever possible, 
to bring new societies into the union and introduce 
them to the work, and to encourage and help the 
weaker societies. 

Article YIII. — Pastors' Advisory Committee 
A pastors' advisory committee representing the dif- 
ferent denominations in the union shall be appointed, 
before which all questions of importance which affect 
the life and work of the churches shall be laid. One 
of the pastors shall be selected as pastoral counsel- 
lor and elected for three years, and his name for- 
warded to the United Society of Christian Endeavor. 
[Note. — The pastoral counsellor may serve as a pastors* 
advisory committee of one, if it is thought best, with 
the proper changes in this section.] 

Article IX. — Other Committees 
Other committees shall be appointed, according to 
the needs of the union. They shall correspond, as 
far as is possible and wise, to the committees of the 
societies composing the union, and they shall, in 
every way possible, promote throughout the union 
the interests of the causes and committees which they 
represent. [Note. — Some unions prefer to designate 
these different lines of work as departments, and their 
heads as superintendents — missionary superintendent, 
citizenship superintendent, etc. In that case the suit- 
able changes should be made throughout this constitu- 
tion. After the union is well established, it will be 
best to give a section to each committee or department, 
defining its work, so that the constitution shall present 
a conspectus of the union activities.] 



20 UNION WOEK 

Aeticle X. — Reports 

Each committee shall report in writing at every 
regular meeting of the congress [or of the executive 
committee, if the union has no congress]. These re- 
ports shall be placed on file and preserved by the 
recording secretary in the archives of the union, thereby 
securing a history of its work. Once each year a 
summary of the work of all the committees shall be 
presented by the recording secretary to the union mass 
meeting. [Note. — It may be best for the chairmen of 
the committees to give reports to the union at the mass 
meetings.] 

Aeticle XI. — Visitation 

As far as may be deemed necessary, and as often as 
is wise, each society of the union shall be visited by 
some member of the congress for encouragement and 
mutual help, and intervisitation among the societies 
shall be encouraged. [Note. — A definite scheme of 
visitation should be formulated, but generally it is 
better not to incorporate this in the constitution, as it 
is subject to change.] 

Aeticle XII. — Elections 
A committee shall be appointed at the first meeting 
of the congress in each new year to nominate officers 
and chairmen of committees, which nominations shall, 
if deemed wise, be approved at the next meeting of the 
congress, and the nominees shall be elected at the first 
mass meeting of the union held thereafter. If the 
congress shall not approve the nominations, others 
shall be made by the nominating committee. The ex- 
ecutive committee shall appoint the other members of 
each committee. [Note. — Each union must, of course, 
be the judge as to the best time for the election of 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 21 

officers. If the societies are in the habit of omitting 
their meetings to any considerable extent during the 
summer, it will be best to elect the officers just before 
the beginning of summer, so that the union may start 
off fully equipped and promptly in the fall.] 

Article XIII. — Mass Meetings 
Three or more mass meetings shall be held in the 
course of the year at convenient times. These shall 
be carefully planned by the congress, or a special com- 
mittee of the congress, and such topics may be dis- 
cussed within the scope of Christian Endeavor and 
such methods used to stimulate interest and attendance 
(such as banners, roll call, etc.) as may be deemed wise. 

Article XIY. — Finance 
The expenses of the union shall be met by any plans 
deemed wise by the executive committee and approved 
by the congress, but it is understood that no unneces- 
sary expense shall be incurred. 

Article XY. — Conventions 
Interest in the State and national Christian Endeavor 
conventions shall be stimulated by the union. Infor- 
mation shall be given in advance, interest aroused, and 
when possible " echoes " of the convention shall be 
heard afterwards. 

Article XYI. — Amendments 
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds 
vote of all the active members of the societies present 
at any regular meeting of the union, the amendment 
having been submitted in writing and notice having 
been given at least two weeks before action is taken. 
[Note. — The constitution should specify in what way 



22 UNION WOEK 

the notice is to be given, as by letters to the corre- 
sponding secretaries of the societies, notice at a union 
meeting, or notice in the union paper, etc.] 

Union Divisions.— Large city unions find it neces- 
sary to divide into sectional unions named from their 
localities, as the North Side Union, or given serial 
numbers, as the First District Union. Sometimes 
language divisions are necessary, as the German Union. 
The constitutions of these subdivisions of the union are 
like the foregoing in all essentials, while the constitution 
of the main or city union deals with the interests of 
the union as a whole. In this case the city union 
usually meets only once or twice a year, the divisional 
unions meeting more frequently. The union com- 
mittees are found in each divisional union, the chair- 
men of each kind of committee constituting the main 
union committee on that subject. Each division has 
its own set of officers, the whole working with the 
central officers of the union. 

A Suggested Constitution for District or County 
Christian Endeavor Unions 

Article I. — Name 

The name of this union shall be The 

Christian Endeavor Union. 

Article II. — Object 
The object of the union shall be to increase the 
number of societies of Christian Endeavor in this 
district, and to promote their efficiency as factors in 
Christian life and church work by bringing them into 
closer relation with one another through conventions, 
reports, and correspondence. 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 23 

Article III. — Members 
Any society of Christian Endeavor connected with 
an evangelical church or mission, or a public institution 
in this district, whose constitution, in its aims and in 
its prayer-meeting obligations, conforms substantially 
in spirit to what is known as " The Model Constitu- 
tion," may join this union on its own vote to do so, 
communicated in writing to the secretary of this union, 
and approved by the executive committee of the union. 
The members of any society belonging to this union 
will be entitled to all its privileges. 

Article IV. — Officers and Committees 
The officers of this union shall be a president, three 
or more vice-presidents, a secretary, and. a treasurer, 
whose duties shall be those usually belonging to such 
officers ; also six directors, who, with the above officers, 
and the chairmen of all standing committees, shall 
constitute an executive committee, having charge of 
all business not otherwise provided for. The officers 
and directors shall be chosen at each annual conference, 
and shall begin their terms of service at the close of the 
conference at which they are elected. 

Advisory Committee 
The vice-presidents shall be pastors of different 
denominations, and shall constitute an advisory com- 
mittee to which all difficult questions shall be sub- 
mitted for advice. 

Pastoral Counsellor 

The union shall appoint a pastoral counsellor who 

shall serve for three years and whose name shall be sent 

to the United Society. [Note. — As the functions of 

the pastoral counsellor are the same as those of the ad- 



24 UNION WOEK 

visory committee, if you have the one you will not 
have the other. If the union has a pastoral counsellor, 
therefore, it may have only one vice-president, who 
will be chosen from the societies as is the president. 
The pastoral counsellor should be a member of the 
executive committee.] 

Lookout Committee 

There shall be a lookout committee of five members, 
whose duty it shall be to see that wherever it is possible 
a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor is es- 
tablished and brought into the union. This committee 
shall also seek to establish Junior societies and Inter- 
mediate societies wherever needed, and shall do its 
utmost to strengthen weaker societies as opportunity 
offers. 

Other Committees 

The union may establish other committees as the 
needs of the work suggest, and if these committees are 
permanent their chairmen shall be members of the 
union executive committee. 

Article Y. — Meetings 

1. The executive committee shall arrange the time, 
place, and programme for an annual convention or 
semi-annual conventions of this union each year. 

2. The executive committee may also provide for 
meetings of a part of this union, at such place and time 
as they deem best. 

3. The object of these meetings shall be instruction, 
inspiration, and fellowship, and not legislation. As 
this union cannot be held responsible for the fellowship 
of young people outside of the ranks of the Christian 
Endeavor societies, and in order that the union may 
not be used for partisan purposes, no delegates other 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 25 

than those bearing fraternal greetings shall be ap- 
pointed to other bodies, or received from other bodies. 

Article VI. — Finance 
The expenses of the union shall be met by the free- 
will offerings of the societies, and no tax or assessment 
shall be levied upon the members. 

Article VII. — Amendments 
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds 
vote at any meeting of this union, provided notice of 
the proposed amendment is inserted in the call for that 
meeting, or is given at the previous meeting. 

A Suggested Constitution for State Christian 
Endeavor Unions 

Article I. — Name 

The name of this union shall be The 

Christian Endeavor Union. 

Article II. — Object 
The object of the union shall be to stimulate an 
interest in Young People's Societies of Christian En- 
deavor and in unions of the same in this State, and to 
promote their efficiency as factors in Christian life and 
church work by bringing them into closer relationship 
with one another through conventions, conferences, 
reports, and correspondence. 

Article III. — Members 

Any society of Christian Endeavor, connected w T ith 

an evangelical church, mission, or public institution in 

this State, whose constitution, in its aims and in its 

prayer-meeting obligations, conforms substantially in 



26 UNION WOEK 

spirit to what is known as " The Model Constitution," 
may join this union on its own vote to do so, com- 
municated in writing to the secretary of this union, 
and approved by its own executive committee. The 
members of any society belonging to this union will be 
entitled to all its privileges. 

Article IV. — Officers 
The officers of this union shall be a president, three 
(or more) vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, 
whose duties shall be those usually belonging to such 
officers ; also six directors who, with the above officers 
and the district secretaries and superintendents of 
departments, shall constitute an executive committee, 
having charge of all business not otherwise provided 
for. The officers and directors shall be chosen at each 
annual convention, and shall begin their terms of serv- 
ice at the close of the convention at which they are 
elected. At their first meeting they shall select super- 
intendents for the different departments, such as 
Junior, Intermediate, Missionary, Citizenship, Quiet 
Hour, Tenth Legion, etc. 

Article V. — Meetings 

1. The executive committee shall arrange the time, 
place, and programme for an annual convention of this 
union. 

2. The executive committee may also provide for 
meetings of a part of this union, under a call for a 
district convention at such place and time as they deem 
best. 

3. The object of these meetings shall be instruction, 
inspiration, and fellowship, but not legislation. As 
this union is the servant of the churches and cannot be 



THE UNION CONSTITUTION 27 

held responsible for the fellowship of young people out- 
side of the ranks of the Christian Endeavor societies, 
and in order that the union may not be used for 
partisan purposes, no delegates other than those bear- 
ing fraternal greetings shall be appointed to other 
bodies, or received from other bodies. 

Article VI. — Finance 
The expenses of the union shall be met by the free- 
will offerings of the societies, and no tax or assessment 
shall be levied upon the members. 

Article VII. — Districts 

The executive committee may divide the State into 
districts, and appoint over each a district secretary, 
whose duties shall be to assist in organizing new so- 
cieties when called upon, to report such new societies 
to the State secretary, and do whatever he can to 
arouse and increase the interest in Christian Endeavor 
work. 

Article VIII.— Amendments 

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds 
vote at any meeting of this union, provided notice of 
the proposed amendment is inserted in the call for that 
meeting, or is given at the previous meeting. 



Class Work on Chapter II 

The Leader's Questions 
Why should we begin simply in making a union con- 
stitution ? 
What kind of name is best for a union ? 
What is the object of our union ? 



28 UNION WOEK 

What societies are eligible to membership in our union ? 
What are our union officers ? 
What are the duties of the executive committee ? 
What is the union congress ? 

What is the work of the union lookout committee ? 
What is the work of the other union committees ? 
What reports should the committees make ? 
When are union elections held ? 
What union mass meetings are required ? 
How is the union financially supported ? 
How may the constitution be amended ? 
[Add questions covering other features of your con- 
stitution.] 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
How to Make a Constitution Mean Much. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that a Christian Endeavor union is essential 
for success in local society work. 



CHAPTER III 
THE UNION PBESIDENT 

The Importance of the President's Office. — The 
president of a Christian Endeavor union is faced with 
a great responsibility, and at the same time enjoys a 
great privilege. He is a leader to whom a multitude 
of young people look up with respect and affection. He 
can put large thoughts into their minds and can lead 
them out into large ways of service. If he is wise and 
strong and consecrated he can be a powerful influence 
for good in many lives and can do much for the cause 
of Christ through the Christian Endeavor societies. 

The president of a Christian Endeavor union should 
be a young man (or young woman) of good executive 
ability, of thorough knowledge of Christian Endeavor, 
and of genuine consecration. He should have energy, 
good cheer, and abiding enthusiasm. He should be 
filled with zeal for the growth of the union in all 
helpful ways. If he has the right idea of his position 
and work, he will be eager to make good at the cost 
of all needed time and effort. 

The President Presides. — Some presidents "do it 
all." They wish to seem to be "the whole thing." 
On the contrary, a wise president does nothing that 
he can get any one else to do for him. It is not his 
business to do things but to get them done. He is to 
preside over the doings of others, to inspire their ac- 
tivity and direct it. If a president does more than 

29 



30 UNION WOEK 

preside, that is a sign either that the union is in a bad 
way because of poor management in the past or that 
the president does not know what his true job is. 

Inspiring His Fellow Officers. — The first work of 
the president is therefore to fill his fellow officers with 
his own zeal for Christian Endeavor and for the union. 
If the union has been going downhill, he is to fire them 
with determination to set it on the upgrade. The 
president should know about the work of each of his 
officers, so that he can put them to work and keep 
them at it. He will get them to adopt the best meth- 
ods and will put them on the track of full information 
about their work. He will show each officer how im- 
portant his task is and how much it means to the 
union. By making it plain how he leans upon them 
he will inspire them to do their very best. 

Stimulating and Guiding the Committees. — The 
president should be ex officio a member of every com- 
mittee of the union. He should be free to go to every 
committee meeting, and should be notified when the 
meetings are to be held. Of course, if the president 
is ignorant of the work of the committee and if he 
meddles with it officiously and not helpfully, he will 
not be a welcome visitor and the chairmen of the com- 
mittees will not take pains to tell him when the com- 
mittees meet ; but if he takes pains to learn the best 
committee methods and plans and always has bright 
suggestions to make, if, moreover, he makes these sug- 
gestions quietly and modestly, the chairman and the 
committee will be glad of his presence. 

If a committee does not get to work promptly at the 
beginning of the year, it is the business of the president 



THE UNION PEESIDENT 31 

to prod the chairman and set it to work. If a com- 
mittee becomes lax during the year, it is the president's 
task to rouse it to renewed activity. The president 
must do this tactfully ; but even if at last he has to 
take stern measures, it must be done. Personal feeling 
must not be allowed to stand in the way of the success 
of the entire union. 

The Executive Committee.— The president will re- 
gard the meeting of the executive committee as the 
very heart of the union, and will spend much of his 
time in planning for this meeting and thinking up the 
best ideas to present to the members. The executive- 
committee meeting is the president's cabinet meeting. 
Here he meets, in effect, the entire union. Here he 
can lay his hand upon the moving forces of the union, 
and by a few words can do more than elsewhere he 
could do with much trouble. Suggestions and plans 
for the executive committee are given in the chapter 
on the subject. That chapter is for the president the 
most important in this book. 

Visiting the Societies. — The president of a local union 
will visit the societies regularly and as often as he can. 
A visit from the union president will be counted an 
honor, and will do much to interest the society in the 
union. To emphasize the occasion, send word in ad- 
vance that you are coming ; but be sure to say that 
you do not want to make a speech, though you may 
take part in the meeting like the others. You want to 
have some idea of the condition of the society, and so 
you want to listen to the members, though of course 
you will say a few words to the society about the 
union as well as encourage them about their own work. 



32 UNION WORK 

Be sure to have a talk with the pastor. Drop a 
word about the great advantage of Christian Endeavor 
to the church. Listen to him if he has any complaint 
to make about Christian Endeavor, and remove what- 
ever misconception he may entertain. Praise him for 
his society, and ask for his influence on behalf of the 
union and his presence in the union meetings whenever 
practicable. Kemain for the evening service if you 
possibly can. Talk privately with the most influential 
members of the society, and especially with those not 
already interested in the work of the union. Learn 
what you can about the best methods of the society, 
so that you may pass them on to other societies which 
you will visit. These visits of the president to the so- 
cieties may be of the greatest benefit to the societies as 
well as to the union. 

Conducting the Union Business Meetings.— The 
union business meetings are best held in connection 
with the union socials, if they are well attended, be- 
cause nearly all present are Endeavorers, and you can 
give more time to these technical matters. If, how- 
ever, it is necessary to conduct the business meeting in 
connection with the union mass meeting, with many 
present who are not Endeavorers, it will be wise to 
abbreviate the business as much as possible. Have it 
first and get it over promptly. Do not have long re- 
ports or many of them. Have them confined to mat- 
ters of greatest interest to persons outside the union. 
Make it all run briskly, introducing as much fun and 
pointed earnestness as you can. Get it all done in 
fifteen minutes at the outside. The union business is 
important enough and interesting enough to the En- 
deavorers to warrant an entire evening given up to it, 



THE UNION PBESIDENT 33 

with the addition of a brief social and light refresh- 
ments. 

The president will hold the meeting strictly to the 
subject before it. He will use tact in preventing dis- 
putes ; and if any serious differences in opinion arise, 
he will suggest that the matter be debated in a com- 
mittee and the conclusions given to the union later. 
He will have the matters which the meeting is to take 
up well arranged in advance as far as possible, and 
well thought out in his own mind. At the same time 
he will make it plain that any one is at liberty to in- 
troduce a matter of business, and that the union is to 
dispose of any matter as it sees fit without dictation 
from the board of officers. Welcome discussion, but 
keep it within proper bounds. Especially make sure 
that some large and worth-while plan is laid before 
every business meeting and adopted, so that the mem- 
bers will go away realizing that the union is doing 
things and that their attendance has been worth while. 

Presiding over the Mass Meetings.— Some union 
presidents in presiding over the mass meetings make 
the great mistake of being too wordy. They seem to 
think that they are the principal speakers. Others are 
f assy and nervous, forgetting that serenity in a presid- 
ing officer promotes serenity and satisfaction in an 
audience. Others calmly throw away the programme, 
pay no heed to the times set for the various speakers, 
and embark upon an impromptu programme of their 
own quite heedless of the disastrous result, to the dis- 
gust of all present except themselves. Once I was the 
only speaker announced on the programme for the 
closing meeting of a State convention. The presiding 
officer called up this, that, and the other person from 



34 UNION WORK 

the audience — past presidents, leading ministers, and 
so on — and so occupied the time that it was ten o'clock 
before I was introduced. Most of the crowd had to 
get trains or trolleys, and I spoke to a procession. At 
another time I was present at a city union at which 
the only advertised speaker was a well-known clergy- 
man. The president of the union (also a minister of 
a large reputation) himself spoke for at least three- 
quarters of an hour, called upon several others to speak 
extemporaneously, got up an impromptu consecration 
meeting of three-quarters of an hour, and did not call 
upon the speaker of the evening till after ten o'clock. 
Said this speaker, " My train leaves in six minutes," 
and sat down. On another occasion I was the only 
speaker on the programme at the annual meeting of 
a large city union (one of the largest in the United 
States). Actually twenty speakers were introduced be- 
fore the president came to me, and again it was well 
past ten o'clock before I got my chance at that long- 
suffering audience. Such stories could be multiplied 
indefinitely. No exhortation is more needed by presi- 
dents than this, that they say little themselves, make 
that little as pointed and bright as possible, and devote 
themselves to keeping the meeting strictly on time. 

The spirit of the presiding officer is largely that of 
the meeting, so that he should see to it that he is peace- 
ful, trustful, earnest, and ardent. If he expects a good 
meeting he will show that expectation in his whole bear- 
ing, and the audience will look for a good time with him. 

In Touch with Other Unions. — Part of the duty of 
the union president is to become acquainted with the 
leaders of near-by unions and know what they are do- 
ing. He can do this partly by correspondence and 



THE UNION PRESIDENT 35 

partly by visiting the meetings of other unions and 
talking with the workers there. In both these ways 
he will gain many ideas which he will bring back with 
him to the executive-committee meeting of his own 
union. Visits to the executive-committee meetings of 
other unions will be particularly valuable to him, and 
he should invite the presidents of other unions to come 
to his own executive-committee meetings. Whenever 
he sees a chance for co-operation among the unions he 
should try to bring it about. 

The President and the Larger Work Every union 

president should keep himself well informed regarding 
the work of the United Society of Christian Endeavor 
and of the societies all over the world. This can be 
done only by taking The Christian Endeavor World. 
Thus he will learn of the new printed helps which the 
United Society is constantly publishing and all the new 
plans for the societies and unions which it is constantly 
promulgating. It is no small part of the president's 
duties to see that his own union has its proper share in 
the world-wide plans of the United Society. If he can 
propose something to his union with the statement that 
all the other societies in the world are entering upon 
this good movement, he will be far more likely to ob- 
tain their hearty acquiescence. 

The president will also keep his union at work upon 
some large plan for the good of the community, as is 
more fully suggested in another chapter of this book. 
He will also keep an eye upon the broad movements in 
the religious world, such as nation-wide evangelistic 
movements, or movements for more generous giving or 
for enlisting more men in the church work or for the 
banishment of the saloon. He will not do his duty till 



36 UNION WOEK 

he brings his union well abreast of these great mass 
movements for the progress of the kingdom of God. 

Defending the Union from Criticism. — The presi- 
dent of a Christian Endeavor union stands for the union 
in the eyes of the community. If the union is attacked, 
it is his business to reply to the attacks. If Christian 
Endeavor is misrepresented, it is his business to state 
the correct view of the matter. He can do this some- 
times through the religious or secular papers, and some- 
times by appearing before large and representative 
bodies of men such as the ministers' meetings. If the 
occasion requires it, he should not hesitate to ask for 
such a hearing. 

Advocating the Work of the Union. — The president 
is not only the union's proper defender against criti- 
cism, but its advocate when it would appear before the 
public asking for special support in its work. Some- 
times this work is so large that the financial resources 
of the union are not adequate, and thus the general 
public must be called upon. The union may wish to 
establish a public library or a gymnasium or a public 
playground or a park. The president will take the lead 
in such work, aided, of course, by the union committees 
and backed by the pastoral counsellor and the ministers. 

The State President.— The work of the president of 
a county or district union is essentially the same as that 
of a city union, but the president of a State union has 
a somewhat different task. He cannot, of course, visit 
all the societies, but he can visit most of the city or 
county and district unions, and he can be at many of 
their mass meetings and conventions. Whatever he 



THE UNION PRESIDENT 37 

can do in thus becoming personally acquainted with 
the workers and stimulating them will add much to the 
success of the State union. He also must confine him- 
self to the executive work that properly belongs to 
him, and must work through his officers, making much 
of the meetings of the State executive committee. 
These meetings will be held several times a year in 
different sections of the State, so as to be convenient 
to all the members of the executive committee in turn. 
It will generally be best to arrange with the city union 
to entertain the members of the State board, and in 
return they will be the speakers at a mass meeting of 
the union held in the evening of their stay, the meeting 
of the executive committee being in the afternoon. 
Thus the State officers will have a chance to give the 
city a real stimulus in Christian Endeavor work. 

Planning a Convention. — To the president belongs 
the initial work of planning the State convention, at 
least in its broad outlines. Often these outlines, how- 
ever, will be presented to the State executive committee 
and thoroughly discussed with them, since fresh minds 
will be sure to suggest new and valuable ideas. The 
president may correspond with the speakers himself 
(he usually does) ; and whether he or the secretary 
does this, he should make sure that each speaker un- 
derstands exactly what is expected of him as to theme 
and manner of treatment, and especially just how long 
a time he is to occupy and just when he is to come on. 
In planning the convention the president should re- 
member that its aim should be the aiding of Christian 
Endeavor societies in their special work ; it is not a 
convention for Sunday-school work or for the discussion 
of current social problems or for political speeches or 



38 UNION WORK 

for sermons taken from last year's barrels, however 
eloquent the sermons may have been when given to 
their original audiences. Everything must be focused 
upon the actual needs of the societies, and be adapted 
to improving and stimulating Christian Endeavor work. 
The president will not pack the programme so full 
that the interruptions and unexpected events will dis- 
turb it, but will leave a generous margin of time for 
these. He will make every session full of practical 
help for the Endeavorers. He will give them some- 
thing to do in the sessions as well as much to receive. 
And upon it all, at every step, he will earnestly ask the 
blessing of the Holy Spirit. 

The President Preparing a Convention.— Of course 
the president will work through a full set of convention 
committees. There will be committees on printing and 
advertising, on entertainment, on decorating, on music, 
on programme, on halls, on reception, on transporta- 
tion, on press, on finance, on badges, on ushers, etc., 
but it is the president that must see that these commit- 
tees are at work and that they keep at work actively 
and wisely. He will bring the chairmen of all the 
committees together in frequent meetings, will have 
reports from all committees, and will make sure at 
every step that good progress is being made. If the 
president does not live in the convention city he will 
be obliged to carry on much of this work by corre- 
spondence, but still he will often visit the convention 
city and consult in person with the workers. 

The President Managing a Convention. — During 
the convention itself the president will keep his hand 
on all details of the work. He should be in telephonic 



THE UNION PRESIDENT 39 

touch with the heads of the different committees, ar- 
ranging several times every day when they will report 
to him in person and receive suggestions from him. 
He will not always preside over the convention ses- 
sions, but will hand over part of this work to other 
officers of the union, never, however, giving it to any 
one that cannot do it well. He will especially make 
sure that the speakers are received cordially on their 
arrival, taken to their hotels or other places of enter- 
tainment, and brought to the convention building in 
time for their addresses. If possible he will look them 
up himself, and make sure that they fully understand 
when they are to speak and all other details. Through 
these multifarious labors the president must keep serene 
and cheerful, and be so happy himself that his happi- 
ness will overflow into the hearts of all the hundreds 
whom he has a most unusual opportunity to influence. 

The President Training a Successor. — Every Elijah 
should train his Elisha. The president will not force 
any person upon the union as his successor, but he will 
not do his duty unless he so trains some one that he 
will make a good successor if the union sees fit to ap- 
point him. If the president's work is well done, the 
union will doubtless be very glad to appoint him. This 
possible successor may usually be the vice-president ; 
but if the vice-president does not prove to be well 
fitted to the task, then the president will put some one 
else in training for it, getting him to help in the man- 
agement of committees and leaning upon him in all the 
work of the union. 

The President out of Office. — The privilege of work- 
ing at the head of a Christian Endeavor union is so 



40 UNION WOBK 

great that it involves a life-long duty to keep in touch 
with the work of the union and be ready to give it all 
possible encouragement and aid. Many unions make 
of past presidents members ex officio of the State ex- 
ecutive committee, and thus wisely get the continued 
advantage of their experience. Some unions have vet- 
erans' associations, which the ex-presidents should cer- 
tainly join. Ex-presidents will take a deep interest in 
the work of their successors, praising them, cheering 
them up, and giving them a hand of helpfulness when- 
ever they can. They will attend the union meetings 
whenever possible, and make it abundantly evident 
that their heart is still in the work. 



Class Work on Chapter III 

The Leader's Questions 

What kind of person should be chosen for a union 
president ? 

What is the president's duty with reference to the 
other officers ? 

What should the president do for the union commit- 
tees ? 

What is the president's work in connection with the 
executive committee ? 

What should the president do when he visits the socie- 
ties ? 

How will the president conduct the union business 
meetings ? 

How will the president preside over the union mass 
meetings ? 



THE UNION PEESIDENT 41 

How will the president keep in touch with other 

unions ? 
How will the president keep in touch with the larger 

work of Christian Endeavor ? 
How will the president defend and advocate Christian 

Endeavor ? 
How will the president prepare for a convention ? 
How will the president keep a convention running well? 
How will the president train his successor ? 
How will the president help the work when out of 

office? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
A President That Really Presides. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that humility is more necessary for a presi- 
dent than energy. 



CHAPTEK IV 
THE UNION VICE PKESIDEOT 

The Vice-President's Important Duties. — It is the 
fashion to think lightly of the vice-president and his 
work and regard him as a nonentity. This is a great 
mistake. Properly considered, he is one of the most 
necessary and important officers of the union. Few 
unions, however, make the right use of the vice-presi- 
dent, and indeed, few organizations of any kind. 

The vice-president's one task, so far as most consti- 
tutions define it, is to preside in the absence of the 
president. But the president may never be absent ; 
and then, since the vice-president is quite certain to be 
a person of ability, you have his powers left unused. 
Of course the vice-president must take the president's 
work in his absence, but how can he do it well unless 
he does part of the president's work, and a large part, 
when the president is not absent ? In fact, the vice- 
president should be the assistant president of the union, 
always at the right hand of the president, ready to aid 
him in any task and taking off his shoulders as nearly 
half of his burden as is possible. 

If this is done, the vice-president will be in training 
for the office of president and will be the logical suc- 
cessor to the president when he must give up that 
office. In some unions this is the regular and expected 
thing, though of course it should not be a hard-and-fast 
rule so as to bring about the election of an unfit person 
as president just because he has held the office of vice- 

42 



THE UNION VICE-PKESIDENT 43 

president. This office is to serve as the testing out, 
and if the test is not passed successfully, you will look 
elsewhere for your next president. 

Heading the Lookout Committee. — It is well to give 
the vice-president some definite work to do in the 
union at all times, and not merely when the president 
is absent. Perhaps the best task to assign him is to 
make him chairman of the union lookout committee. 
This is a post of great importance, and one that brings 
its occupant into touch with all the societies and with 
many phases of union work. Moreover, it is work of 
considerable difficulty, and if it is well done much of 
the president's care for the union will be lessened. 

Overseeing the Committees. — In addition to the 
chairmanship of the union lookout committee, to which 
he may be assigned, ex officio, by the union constitu- 
tion, the vice-president may well be asked by the presi- 
dent to look after a part of the other union committees 
and see that they are kept running efficiently, and the 
committees assigned him for oversight may be changed 
from time to time. Other branches of union work may 
be placed under his general superintendency as the 
need arises, such as the hospital work or the work for 
prisoners. In short, the president will call in the aid 
of the vice-president for every task for which he has 
no time or too little time, as well as for many tasks 
which the vice-president should take up merely to gain 
a more intimate knowledge of the union. And if the 
president does not of his own accord make this thor- 
ough use of the vice-president, that officer should feel 
no delicacy in at least offering himself for such services, 
though of course he cannot force himself into them. 



44 UNION WORK 

Visiting the Societies. — The vice-president can al- 
ways be free to visit the societies ; and in this work, 
which is so important and arduous, he can greatly aid 
the president and benefit the union. The president 
and vice-president working together cannot visit the 
societies as often as they might be visited with profit. 
The vice-president will bring to the union executive- 
committee meetings the fruit of these visits in the 
knowledge of helpful methods discovered, and also in 
the experience of the needs of certain societies. 

The Vice-President Presiding.— A wise president 
will not always preside over the meetings of the union 
executive committee or the mass meetings of the union, 
but will occasionally put his vice-president in his place. 
The vice-president may give him some excellent sug- 
gestions by the way in which he does things, and fresh 
methods of work are helpful even if they are no better 
than the old. The president will take this opportunity 
to sit in the audience and observe from that point of 
vantage how matters are going, or to sit in the executive 
committee and take part from the floor. This presiding 
of the vice-president's may be for a whole session or 
for only part of it ; at first, certainly, for only part of 
the time. 

A Vice-President's Conference.— The vice-president 
is usually not utilized in the societies as he should be, 
and to bring about this magnifying of his office the 
union vice-president may well call a conference of 
society vice-presidents early in their term of office. 
Obviously it would be well to have the society presi- 
dents there also ! This larger view of the vice-presi- 
dent's work will be set forth, and the views of the 
presidents and vice-presidents regarding it will be 



THE UNION VICE-PBES1DENT 45 

heard and their questions will be discussed. In a so- 
ciety as well as in a union it is well to make the vice- 
president the ex officio chairman of the lookout com- 
mittee. 

The State Union Vice-President.— The work of the 
president of a larger union — county, district, or State — 
is so difficult that he needs the aid of his vice-president 
especially, and should avail himself of it to the full. 
Indeed, the State union usually has more than one vice- 
president, and the president will avail himself of the 
assistance of them all. Sometimes the various vice- 
presidents represent the different sections of the State, 
and are expected to superintend the work of the State 
union in their respective sections under the general 
direction of the State president. Sometimes the State 
union has a vice-president from each denomination that 
has Christian Endeavor societies in the State. These 
denominational vice-presidents are supposed to have 
oversight of the societies in their respective denomina- 
tions, and to promote Christian Endeavor in their 
churches. They also will live in widely separated 
parts of the State, and will be of double service to the 
union and to the union president. They will be ex- 
pected to look out for the interests of Christian En- 
deavor in the State denominational conferences, and to 
promote the cause through the various denominational 
papers. 

The World's Union Vice-Presidents.— The World's 
Christian Endeavor Union has a vice-president in each 
of the States, and this officer will do for the president 
of the World's Union what the State vice-presidents do 
for the State presidents, and what the local-union vice- 



46 UNION WORK 

presidents do for the presidents of their smaller bodies. 
The World's Union has a great work to carry on for 
the mission lands of the world, where Christian En- 
deavor has not come to the period of self-support. 
Much money has to be raised every year for carrying 
on this work, and the vice-presidents may be of the 
greatest assistance in raising it. They will know how 
this money is spent — for the translation and printing 
of Christian Endeavor literature, for the sending out of 
Christian Endeavor organizers from Christian Endeavor 
lands, and for the support of native secretaries who 
promote the cause among their countrymen. The mis- 
sionaries of all denominations are eager for this assist- 
ance, and are unanimous in their declaration that 
Christian Endeavor societies give them the greatest 
possible help in the training of the converts and the 
conducting of the native churches. All this work is 
done in each mission field under the close supervision 
and with the hearty co-operation of the missionaries of 
all denominations. 



Class Work on Chapter IV 

The Leader* 8 Questions 

Why is the vice-president an important officer ? 

What are the duties of the vice-president ? 

What committee work may be assigned to the vice- 
president ? 

What work may the vice-president of the union do in 
the societies ? 

When will the vice-president preside ? 

What conference should the vice-president organize ? 



THE UNION VICE-PKESIDENT 47 

"What is the work of the State union vice-president ? 
What is the work of the World's Union vice-president ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
A Useful Vice-President. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should have more than one 
vice-president. 



CHAPTER Y 

THE UNION SECRETARY 

Corresponding and Recording.— Unions seldom have 
separate corresponding and recording secretaries, but 
one officer does both kinds of work. At the same time 
the union secretary is expected to do much that would 
be done by a printing committee, if a union had one, 
and by an advertising committee. If these committees 
exist, as they well may in a large union, some sug- 
gestions made below are for them and not for the 
secretary. 

The Secretary's Records.— Of course the secretary 
will keep full records of all business transacted in the 
business meetings of the union, and also of the work of 
the executive committee. The minutes of the latter 
will be quite as important as those of the former. 
The secretary will take great care to record all mo- 
tions passed, and in the very words of the motions. If 
you are in doubt, get the mover of the motion to write 
it out before it is passed, or read your own wording to 
the union, or the executive committee as the case may 
be. In addition to the motions passed, it will be use- 
ful for the secretary to record all important matters 
discussed, even when the decision is unfavorable. In 
later days it will be quite as useful to know that a cer- 
tain plan has been considered and vetoed as to know 
that it was acted upon affirmatively. 

48 



THE UNION SECEETARY 49 

Of course the secretary will not be able to write out 
the minutes during the progress of the business meet- 
ing, but will merely take very full notes. These notes 
should be written out as promptly as possible, before 
they have grown " cold," and should be copied into the 
permanent record book immediately after they have 
been approved at the next meeting. Procrastination 
on these two points renders the secretary well-nigh 
useless to the union. 

Moreover, the secretary should be so familiar with 
the minutes of past meetings that he can turn to any 
former action with great quickness. It is a great drag 
on a meeting to be obliged to wait while the secretary 
fumbles over page after page, trying to discover what 
action was taken on a certain matter in a former meet- 
ing. To facilitate this reference to what has been 
done, the secretary should prepare a very full alpha-, 
betical index, and should keep it in the back of the 
record book. Bring it down to date with each new 
set of minutes. 

The Union Scrap-book. — The recording secretary of 
the union should keep a union scrap-book. It will be 
a large volume, ample for the accumulations of years. 
In it the secretary will paste, in careful chronological 
order, all the printed matter published by the union. 
There will be the programmes of the union meetings, 
the blanks that may be issued for statistics, printed 
notices sent to the societies, and all the printed matter 
which the different union committees may issue, as far 
as the secretary can obtain copies. 

The secretary will give frequent notice to all the offi- 
cers and chairmen of his desire to have copies of what- 
ever is printed, that they may thus be preserved. Date 



50 UNION WOEK 

everything in the scrap-book, and write neat titles 
if the material is not self-explanatory. Whatever is 
printed about the union may well be included, even 
the newspaper accounts of the union meetings, though 
here the secretary will duplicate the work of the press 
committee, which also will keep a scrap-book ; but that 
will be for its own use and the use of its successors, 
while the union scrap-book will have a wider use. The 
union scrap-book may also contain copies of all the im- 
portant and interesting printed matter issued by the 
individual societies. 

If the union is a large one, a series of scrap-books 
would be more useful, one for each important class of 
matter preserved. The recording secretary will keep 
this scrap-book where all union workers can have ready 
access to it, and will remember that its usefulness is 
much less if it is not kept promptly up to date. 

The Secretary's Reports to the Union. — The secre- 
tary may duplicate parts of the reports of other officers 
and some of the committees, but this should be avoided 
if possible. The report will be read at the union busi- 
ness meeting. It will contain a summary of the most 
important actions of the executive committee. It will 
briefly review the last union meeting. It will tell 
about the prominent union activities, unless these are 
covered in the reports of committees. And, most im- 
portant of all, it will picture the present state of the 
union, giving the totals of all statistics that the secre- 
tary has been able to gather. If the executive com- 
mittee has recommendations to make to the union, 
they will properly come through the secretary's report. 

All of this will be as bright and as brief as the sec- 
retary can possibly make it. Let the report be an 



THE UNION SECRETAKY 51 

event, a genuine contribution to the value and interest 
of the meeting. It will be, if the secretary has origi- 
nal ideas and an original way of expressing them, even 
though the report is confined to the work of others. 

The Secretary's Notifications. — The secretary, hav- 
ing access to the official minutes, is the one to notify 
all persons instructed by them to undertake any duty. 
If committees are appointed, he will notify the mem- 
bers in writing, and at once. It makes no difference 
that some of them may have been present when the 
action was taken ; the written notification should be 
sent as a reminder. The chairman of the committee 
should be told that he is the chairman. If a new so- 
ciety has been received into the union, the secretary of 
that society (the corresponding secretary) should re- 
ceive written word to that effect, together with a 
cordial greeting. The president of the union may well 
sign this communication with the secretary. If the 
union business meeting or executive committee has 
taken any action regarding the work of any officer 
or committee, this action should be communicated in 
writing by the secretary. 

It is the duty of the secretary to send written or tele- 
phonic notices of all meetings of the executive commit- 
tee ; and these notices should be sent well in advance, 
that plans may be made. 

Sometimes it is best for the president to correspond 
with the speakers of the union meetings ; but if he 
wishes help in this direction, the secretary should give 
it. Alwa}^s, if the president has obtained the speakers, 
it is well for the secretary to write to them as a re- 
minder when the time for the meeting draws near, 
sending them copies of the printed programme and 



52 TJEION WORK 

giving them all necessary instructions as to the meet- 
ing place and the time of speaking. 

The Printing of the Programmes. — If there is no 
printing committee, it is the duty of the secretar} T to 
see to the printing of the union programmes. The 
president will give him the material, unless, indeed, he 
has himself done the corresponding with the speakers. 
He will consult the president as to the arrangement of 
the programme, which is thus a joint product. Poor 
printing never pays. The programme should be so 
neat, accurate, and attractive that it will be a good 
advertisement for Christian Endeavor, though extrava- 
gance should, of course, be avoided. 

The Union Constitution. — The secretary will super- 
intend the printing of the union constitution and by- 
laws, the fundamental union documents. Enough copies 
should be printed to supply every active member of 
the union for several years to come. A slight charge 
may be made for the copies, to cover the cost of print- 
ing. It adds much to the interest which the members 
will take in the union to see that each member has a 
copy of the constitution and is familiar with it. 

The Union Statistics.— It is the duty of the secretary 
to collect the statistics of the union. What these shall 
be will be determined by the executive committee, and 
the different chairmen will call for the facts most 
needed in their work. The secretary will ask the so- 
cieties to tell how many active, associate, and honorary 
members each has, what committees, what is the 
average attendance, how much money is given for 
missions, how many Endeavorers united with the 



THE UNION SECEETAEY 53 

church, how many copies are taken of the local or 
State Christian Endeavor paper and The Christian En- 
deavor World, how many members teach in the Sunday 
school, how many are church officers, the average so- 
ciety attendance on the regular church services, and 
any new or especially interesting kind of work which 
the society has taken up. Of course other items may 
be called for, or some of these may be dropped, as the 
wishes of the executive committee may decide. 

A Secretaries' Conference.— The union secretary may 
well hold, at least once a year, at the opening of the 
society year, a conference of all the recording and 
corresponding secretaries in the union. At this con- 
ference the union secretary may give a little talk on 
the work of the secretary in general. Then he will 
call upon a recording secretary and a corresponding 
secretary previously appointed, who will talk about the 
duties of their respective offices. Finally there will be 
a general question-box on the work. The union secre- 
tary will take this opportunity to spur the correspond- 
ing secretaries to greater faithfulness in their work, 
especially in the furnishing of the statistics desired by 
the unions. 

Union Maps. — One device which the secretary may 
adopt for placing before the societies the facts he 
gathers is a union map. This will show the bounds of 
the union and the principal geographical features. It 
will indicate all the churches, and will distinguish with 
a gilt star each church that has a Christian Endeavor 
society (Young People's) ; also with a red star each 
Junior society, with a blue star each Intermediate so- 
ciety, etc. This map will show at a glance the field 



54 UNION WOEK 

of the union, and the parts of the field that are not yet 
cultivated. 

Helping the President.— The secretary, like the vice- 
president, will be one of the president's best helpers, 
and will take up portions of the president's work as he 
is asked to do so from time to time. He will be espe- 
cially useful in visiting the societies and learning the 
needs and special excellences of each. 

The Secretary a Reference Bureau. — The union 
secretary should learn the very best Christian En- 
deavor methods and have them at his tongue's end. 
He should openly invite questions from the societies 
regarding the work, and should be so faithful when the 
questions come that they will come in ever-increasing 
numbers. This he can bring about only through the 
most careful study of the best Christian Endeavor helps 
published by the United Society. 

The Secretary's Correspondence. — The union secre- 
tary may wisely carry on a correspondence with the 
secretaries of other unions, for the purpose of learning 
their best methods of work in the societies as well as 
the unions. From this correspondence he may prepare 
what he will call " suggestion sheets " — budgets of 
Christian Endeavor plans, briefly stated, that will be 
helpful to the societies of his union. These budgets 
will be printed on some duplicator, and sent to the 
corresponding secretaries of the societies for them to 
communicate to their fellow members. 

Especially will the union secretary be prompt in 
answering the letters of the State secretary and the 
general secretary of the United Society of Christian 



THE UNION SECRETARY 55 

Endeavor, since failure to respond promptly here means 
hindrance to very important affairs. 

The State Secretary. — The duties of the secretaries 
of county and district unions are much like those of the 
local-union secretary, but the State secretary has a 
wider field. He will do for the State executive com- 
mittee what the local-union secretary does for the 
executive committee of his union. He will do for the 
unions of the State what the union secretary does for 
the societies that constitute his union. The statistics 
gathered by the State secretary will be determined 
largely by the State officers. Much of these statistics 
will be brought together by the local unions and simply 
forwarded to the State secretary. He cannot use the 
telephone and face-to-face conversation as spurs to 
attention to his requests for information, but he must 
use " follow-up " letters. Some State secretaries have 
been driven to the necessity of telegraphing delinquent 
societies in order to make their statistics complete, but 
usually a persistent bombardment of letters will ac- 
complish the feat. Once a secretary is waked up, he 
is likely to remain wide-awake. 

In the State convention the secretary is the presi- 
dent's right-hand man. To him may be assigned the 
supervision of some of the local committees and of cer- 
tain details of the convention. He will see that the 
speakers are on hand, aiding the vice-president in this 
work. He is often the time-keeper, and should hold 
each speaker strictly to the time allotted him, making 
sure at the outset that the speaker understands what 
that time is and just how he is to be notified when the 
time has nearly expired. He will make the convention 
announcements, giving a ruling from the State execu- 



56 UNION WOKK 

tive committee as to what announcements to bar. For 
example, purely personal announcements, as that Miss 
Jones would like to meet Miss Smith at the west door 
after the session, should not be made, but only those 
that plainly belong to the convention or have some 
urgency attaching to them. All these legitimate 
notices should be given in a strong, penetrating voice 
that is easily heard throughout the hall. I have seen 
more than one convention whose success was assured 
more by the good humor and tact and the businesslike 
firmness of the secretary than by any other factor. 



Class Work on Chapter V 

The Leader's Questions 
Distinguish between the corresponding and recording 

secretary. 
What will the secretary put into his records ? 
What will the union scrap-book contain ? 
What will the secretary put into his reports ? 
What notifications will the secretary make ? 
What printing will the secretary see to ? 
What statistics will the secretary collect ? 
What conference will the secretary conduct ? 
In what other ways will the secretary help the union ? 
What are the duties of a State secretary ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Secretary's Trials and Triumphs. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should have both a recording 
and a corresponding secretary. 



CHAPTER VI 

THE FIELD SECRETARY 

The Importance of the Office. — The field secretary 
is the only salaried officer of our Christian Endeavor 
unions, and that fact indicates his importance. Pie 
alone gives his fail time to the work. He continues in 
service year after year, while the presidents and all 
other officers serve for only a short time. He comes 
to have great influence over the State. The Encleav. 
orers know him better than they know any other officer. 
They trust him and love him. It is essential, therefore, 
that the field secretary be chosen with the greatest care, 
and that he be very faithful to his great task. 

Qualifications of the Field Secretary. — Thus far, at 
least, only the State unions have employed field secre- 
taries. The field secretary, therefore, should be some 
one of State size, some one of a large-calibre mind, able 
to cover a big territory in his plans and in his labors. 
Of course he must be a man of high ideals and of pure 
life, wholly consecrated to the Lord's work and deeply 
in love with Christian Endeavor. He should be with- 
out fads, either in thought or in method. He should 
be sympathetic and tactful, able to work with others 
and lead others. If he have a bright humor, so much 
the better. He should be a good talker, and, if possi- 
ble, also a good writer. He should be a man of un- 
flagging industry and of good common sense. In money 
matters he should be practical and strictly honest, keep- 

57 



58 UNION WOEK 

ing every cent of the union funds sacredly apart from 
his own. These qualities are not easy to find in one 
person, but they have been found many times in the 
splendid corps of field secretaries set to work in our 
State Christian Endeavor unions. 

Working with Other Officers. — Since the field secre- 
tary must work in close co-operation with the other 
officers of the State union, and especially with the State 
president, secretary, and treasurer, it is necessary that 
he shall be able to work with others, deferring to their 
judgment though making his own opinions felt, and 
laboring in a brotherly spirit, not seeking to push him- 
self forward but seeking solely the good of the cause. 
He will be loyal to the State union, and will lay all his 
important plans before the State executive committee, 
first having gained the assent of the president. He 
will not try to " run " the State union, but will regard 
himself as an executive officer to carry out the plans 
which the State officers jointly decide upon. Any 
suspicion of self-seeking and of ambition would spoil 
his influence and ruin his work. 

The Field Secretary and the Department Heads. — 
The field secretary, with his wide view over the State 
and over all the work of the State union, will some- 
times find it difficult to sympathize with the feeling of 
the department heads. Each very naturally thinks of 
his department as the one thing to be pushed. Each is 
so deeply interested in his work that he wants a big 
appropriation for it and much attention given to it. It 
will be hard for the field secretary to satisfy all these 
superintendents when each wishes him to advance his 
bit of the work with all his time and strength. But 
the path for the field secretary will be marked out by 



THE FIELD SECEETAEY 59 

a sincere interest in each department, an interest as 
sincere as that felt by the head of the department, 
though not so absorbing. Not once in his meetings 
and correspondence will the field secretary forget any 
department of the State work, but will advocate each 
as opportunity offers, and will make opportunity for 
each whenever he can. Do something practical and 
outstanding for each department during the year, so 
that you can point to at least one evident piece of co- 
operation with it. Often consult with the department 
heads, seek their advice, find out what they are doing, 
and show them that your purpose is to aid them in 
every possible way, consistently with your responsi- 
bilities for the rest of the work and workers. 

Aiding the Unions. — Much of the field secretary's 
work will be done through the local, county, and dis- 
trict unions, and he will be in closest touch with their 
officers. He will visit the unions periodically, and 
come to know them intimately. He will study the 
weakness of each, and try tactfully to remedy it. He 
will also learn the strong points of each, and tell the 
other unions about them so that they may be imitated. 
He will get the union officers into the habit of bring- 
ing to him their perplexities, and will do his best to 
solve them. He will help in the obtaining of speakers 
and the planning of programmes. He will introduce 
new and helpful departments and lines of w T ork, and 
will communicate to the union officers all particularly 
helpful methods about which he may learn. As he 
visits the unions he will arrange whenever he can for 
a personal conference with all the union officers in ad- 
dition to the public meetings. 

The Field Secretary's Journeys.— Of course the field 



60 UNION WOEK 

secretary must be a great traveller. He will probably 
spend more time " on the road " than in his office. 
Personal contact with the Christian Endeavor leaders 
in all the towns and cities is what will accomplish 
most. He will be present, if possible, at all the Chris- 
tian Endeavor conventions held in the State, and it 
will be well to arrange that the conventions in one 
part of the State shall all be held on days close to- 
gether, so as to avoid expense in travelling. This is to 
the advantage of the unions, as thus they will be able 
to use many speakers in partnership. Always when 
he travels the field secretary will try to cover as many 
appointments as possible on the way, and thus keep 
down expenses. 

Raising His Own Salary. — Sometimes the field sec- 
retary is expected to raise a large part of his own 
salary, if not all of it. This is not the ideal condition, 
for the salary should be raised by the State treasurer, 
but sometimes a field secretary can be employed under 
no other conditions. It is better that all the money 
raised by the field secretary should go to the State 
union for its work in general, including, of course, the 
work of the field secretary. 

The field secretary may take collections for the State 
work at all his meetings. Some field secretaries are 
able to raise money by giving entertainments or lec- 
tures. The best way is for the State treasurer to get 
direct pledges from the societies and unions for the 
State work, but the field secretary can do much to 
help transform these pledges into money. The banner 
plan is best. According to this plan the State union 
expenses are apportioned among the county unions in 
proportion to the number of societies in each county, 



THE FIELD SECRETARY 61 

and the " banner counties " are those that raise this 
assessment for the current year. 

The Field Secretary's Correspondence. — Half of his 
work the field secretary will do in meetings of various 
kinds, and the other half he will do by correspondence. 
He must be a vigorous and effective letter- writer, in 
touch with the workers all over the State, getting from 
them their best plans, sympathizing with them in their 
troubles, ready to try to help them out of their per- 
plexities. His letters will aim to make them regard 
him as a personal friend. He will be prompt in reply- 
ing to his correspondents, and his first task on return- 
ing from a journey will be to answer letters. If his 
journey is a long one, he should arrange to have his 
mail forwarded to some place where it will be sure to 
reach him, so that he can reply from there to the more 
pressing communications. A traveller's typewriter 
w r ould be a good investment for a State union. 

Arousing Interest in the State Union. — Wherever 
the field secretary goes he will talk up the State Chris- 
tian Endeavor union — to local-union workers, to pastors, 
to business men, to society officers. He will try to im- 
part to every one the same enthusiasm for the State 
union and its work that he himself has. He will talk 
up the work of the different departments, and show 
why State-wide co-operation is necessary. He will 
have the history of the State union at his tongue's 
end, and will know all about the State constitution. 
Especially he will be able to show that the State union 
helps the local unions and the local societies, for that 
is why the State union exists, and by proving this he 
will do most to inspire zeal for the State union. A 



62 UNION WOEK 

little folder, summarizing brightly what the State union 
is and does, will be of the greatest assistance to him. 

State Christian Endeavor Campaigns. — The State 
union cannot do everything at once, but it will take 
up, one after another, the most important items of 
Christian Endeavor progress, and will try to advance 
those movements among the unions and societies. It 
may be a campaign for new members or for new soci- 
eties. It may be an efficiency movement, or a cam- 
paign for soul-winning, or for increasing missionary 
gifts through the Tenth Legion, or bettering private 
devotion through the Quiet Hour. Whatever the cam- 
paign is, the field secretary will be the leader in pro- 
moting it. He will introduce it in all his addresses. 
He will slip leaflets about it into all his letters. Where- 
ever he goes, he will set the societies and unions to 
Working along the lines of the campaign. He will 
gather accounts of results as fast as he can, and print 
them for the stimulation of the workers. At the close 
of the campaign have some sort of celebration. These 
campaigns are of the greatest value, unifying the efforts 
of the workers all over the State and putting many to 
work that would not otherwise do anything. 

Arousing Interest in the State Convention. — As soon 
as any plans for the State convention have been made, 
and that should be as soon as the last convention is 
over, the field secretary will get busy stirring up 
interest in the coming gathering. Convention clubs 
will be formed among prospective delegates. Little 
articles will be written for the papers. Circulars and 
posters will be sent to the societies. Information will 
be obtained about the principal speakers and scattered 
broadcast. The pride of the unions will be aroused, 



THE FIELD SECEETAEY 63 

each seeking to have the largest representation. As 
the field secretary goes about from one point to another 
over the State, he will talk convention with so much 
fervor that soon the Endeavorers will be looking for- 
ward to it as one of the greatest events of their lives, 
which it may well prove to be. Much of the success 
of the State convention depends upon this hearty pre- 
liminary work of the field secretary. 

The State Paper. — Generally the field secretary, who 
is more closely in touch with the work and the workers 
than any other officer of the State union, edits and 
publishes the State paper. His many journeys give 
him ample news material, and he gets a lot more from 
his correspondence. The paper gives him the best 
opportunity to push the State work of all kinds. He 
will insert helpful items regarding all the departments 
of the State union, but it is best not to assign space 
regularly to any one, since nothing makes a paper more 
uninteresting than material written because one has 
space to fill and not because one has something to say. 
The State paper should be a newspaper pure and 
simple, full of snap, written in brief and pointed 
paragraphs, and published at a low price so that every 
Endeavorer may subscribe. Some field secretaries 
have earned their whole salaries from the subscriptions 
and advertisements of the State paper they conducted. 

The United Society of Christian Endeavor.— The 
field secretary can be of the greatest assistance to the 
United Society of Christian Endeavor by passing on to 
the unions and societies the United Society publications 
and the ideas and suggestions of the national officers. 
He will be in the closest touch with the United Society, 
will carry samples of the latest helps, and will try to 



64 UNION WORK 

introduce them everywhere. In this work he will aid 
the societies and unions even more than the United 
Society. He will give the United Society officers the 
benefit of his experience, suggesting improvements in 
the helps they publish and new kinds of helps that may 
be called for by his constituency. The United Society 
depends largely for its effectiveness upon the State and 
local unions, and there is no better bond between the 
two than the field secretary. 

The Field Secretary's Difficulties.— Often the field 
secretary has to make a place for himself, especially if 
no such work has been done in his State or if it has 
been intermitted for some time. As he is the only 
salaried officer of the union, much will be expected of 
him, perhaps more than is reasonable. He may be 
obliged, in order to make his own work effective, to 
criticise the work of some other officer, perhaps the 
president or the treasurer or the secretary. It may be 
necessary for him to transform some departments, in- 
troducing better methods, and this necessity may get 
him disliked for a time. He will make these changes 
tactfully though firmly, and will manifest so clearly 
his own unselfish purpose that soon all his fellow officers 
will join him in eager zeal for the best. 

The Field Secretary's Rewards.— The work of the 
field secretary is hard. I would advise no one to enter 
upon it who wants to get through life without diffi- 
culties. But it is a task full of romance, full of in- 
spiration, and crowned with rich rewards. The field 
secretary has a chance to enter helpfully into the lives of 
thousands of } 7 oung people. He can turn many of them 
to the gospel ministry or to missionary service. He can 
set in motion a wave of evangelism that will sweep 



THE FIELD SECBETAKY 65 

many souls into the kingdom. He can encourage a 
host of weary workers. He can fill thousands with a 
holy ambition. He can be the means under God of 
transforming many lives, and he can become one of 
the most powerful factors for good in all his State. 
His rewards will be abundant in the gratitude of his 
fellow Endeavorers, in their love for him and friend- 
ship that will last through all his life, and, best of all, 
in the joy and approval of his Master, Jesus Christ. 



Class Work on Chapter VI 

The Leaders Questions 
Why is the field secretary an important officer ? 
What are his qualifications ? 
How should he work with the other officers ? 
How will he aid the unions ? 
How will he plan his journeys ? 
How may he help raise his own salary ? 
How will he arouse interest in the State union ? 
What Christian Endeavor campaigns may he conduct ? 
How will he arouse interest in the State convention ? 
What is his relation to the State paper ? 
What is his relation to the United Society of Christian 

Endeavor ? 
What are some of the field secretary's difficulties ? 
Wbat are the field secretary's rewards ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Experiences of Some Field Secretaries. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that a field secretary should not raise his 
own salary. 



CHAPTER VII 
UNION FINANCES 

Why Unions Need Money. — Our Christian Endeavor 
unions do not need much money. They have no sal- 
aried officers (except that some State unions have field 
secretaries devoting their whole time to the work, and 
therefore paid salaries), and their expenses are very 
little. Indeed, it would be hard, if not impossible, to 
find an institution accomplishing so much with so little 
money as a Christian Endeavor union. 

But our unions do need some money. They need 
money for printing the programmes and notices of 
meetings, the constitutions and other union documents ; 
they need money for the expenses of an occasional 
speaker, for postage, for music if there is a union 
chorus, for free reading-matter used to advance the 
work. If the union is doing some local missionary or 
philanthropic work, such as conducting a fresh-air 
home or work for sailors or prisoners, money will be 
needed in generous amounts for this also. 

The Educative Value of Money-Raising. — The 
money-raising side of union work is not to be scorned. 
It is the best possible training for the money-raising on 
a large scale that some of the Endeavorers will be called 
upon to do for their communities and for the denomi- 
nations. This money-raising is an art, involving many 
principles of business and much knowledge of human 
nature. If the financial work of our Christian En- 
deavor unions trains the young people in this art, the 
churches should be deeply grateful. 

66 



UNION FINANCES 67 

No Dues or Assessments. — Since this work is to be 
educative, it is essential that it shall be based upon the 
right principles ; and the basis of successful money- 
raising for the kingdom of God is the arousing of deep 
personal interest in the object for which the money is 
to be raised. No arbitrary methods, such as the levy- 
ing of dues or assessments, will answer this great end. 
They are easy methods, but very fallacious. The gifts 
must be voluntary. They must be born of loyalty to 
the work and a sincere desire for its advancement. 
Thus only will the giving become permanent aud take 
care of itself, except as the zeal of new members is to 
be awakened. 

For the same reason the rivalry of societies, upon 
which so much stress is sometimes laid, is a false prin- 
ciple of money-raising. Even if the rivalry is always 
good-natured, it is not the best motive, and money- 
raising thus conducted is not educative for the larger 
work of money -raising for the kingdom of God to which 
the Endeavorers will later be called. On the contrary, 
whatever advertises the work of the union and interests 
the Endeavorers in it is a legitimate adjunct to the 
work of the union treasurer. 

The Union Treasurer. — It follows from all this that 
the union treasurer should be some one with thoughts 
far above dollars and cents. Of course he should be a 
good accountant, honest as the day and accurate to a 
cent. He should keep the union money strictly sepa- 
rate from his own, and should bank it properly. He 
should pay it out only on properly signed orders, and 
should insist upon signatures to vouchers for every cent 
thus paid out. He should always have his accounts 
thoroughly audited for his own protection, even if the 



68 UNION WORK 

anion does not insist upon it — and a union always 
should insist upon it. 

But far beyond these elementary requirements, the 
union treasurer must believe fervently in the work of 
the union and be able to communicate that fervor of 
belief to others. He will not talk up the union finances 
but the union work, how necessary it is and how blessed 
are its results. In proportion as he succeeds will the 
Endeavorers give to the union treasury — and he will 
not even need to ask them ! 

The Union Finance Committee. — No one man can 
properly do the work of the treasurer of a Christian 
Endeavor union. There should be a finance commit- 
tee, partly to assist the treasurer and partly to serve as 
an example to the societies, for in each one of them the 
treasurer should be aided by a finance committee. The 
union finance committee should consist of one person 
from each society if the union is small, or from each 
section of the city if the union is large. These mem- 
bers will represent the financial work in their own 
societies or localities, and the task thus divided will be 
easily done. At the same time the training which the 
work of treasurer affords will be given to more persons, 
and a successor to the treasurer will be readily found 
when he must retire. 

The Union Budget. — Every union treasurer and his 
finance committee will prepare a budget at the opening 
of the union year, not only because this is the right 
way to raise union funds, but for the sake of setting 
an example to the societies, which also should have 
budgets, and because this is the right course for all 
similar Christian organizations. The budget will be 
formed after careful consultation with the union officers 



UNION FINANCES 69 

and committee chairmen, and it will be approved by 
the union executive committee before it is passed on to 
the societies. It will state how much money should be 
raised in the union during the year and will divide this 
sum among the different departments of the union 
work, so that the members of the union can see at a 
glance just what the money is to be used for. 

Moreover, attached to the budget will be a rough 
estimate of the proportion of each society, which is 
easily found by dividing the total sum by the number 
of societies in the union. There must, however, be also 
some allowance for the size of each society and the 
ability of the members to pay. Divide the total to be 
raised by the number of members of the union, and 
state how much, on an average, each member must pay 
if the sum is to be raised. Each society can readily 
see what is its proportion by multiplying this sum by 
the number of its members. This, however, is only a 
rough approximation, since some members are able to 
pay many times as much as other members, and the 
society should be reminded of this and told that societies 
and members should give according to their ability and 
desire for the work, merely using these estimates as rough 
guides, and not in any sense as assessments or dues. 

Money- Raising Devices.— While no plan is better 
than the plan just suggested — that of a clearly-set-forth 
budget, toward which the societies contribute, each ac- 
cording to its ability, some unions prefer methods more 
direct and immediate. Some rely upon collections 
made at the union mass meetings. These are well 
enough, but they are very uncertain, and they levy the 
expenses of the union upon those only that attend the 
union meetings. They lack the educative value that 



70 UNION WOEK 

attaches to the other method. Some treasurers prefer 
to go before the union meetings and present the work 
of the union, calling for pledges to be made on the 
spot by representatives of the societies there present. 
Sometimes blackboards are marked off in squares, each 
square representing five dollars of the sum to be raised. 
As each five dollars is subscribed, a square is filled in 
with colored chalk. The method is graphic, and the 
exercise may be made interesting and even exciting to 
the members. It may answer for occasional use, and 
especially for raising money for unusual purposes, but 
it soon wears out if adopted regularly. Its chief value 
is for emergencies. 

Union Entertainments. — Some large city unions raise 
all the money needed for their work by means of an- 
nual union excursions, either boat rides or railroad 
trips. Others have union picnics with charges at- 
tached, or union field days for athletic sports with ad- 
mission charges. Sometimes unions raise considerable 
sums by means of cantatas or pageants, or other pleas- 
ant and profitable entertainments. These all have a 
social value and are worth while in themselves. They 
may be made to advance the union work in other ways 
besides helping, at least, to provide funds. While it is 
seldom that they can wisely take the place of the defi- 
nite budget and an educative campaign to interest the 
Endeavorers directly in the work of the union and its 
support, yet they are worth while as an adjunct to that 
more dignified and permanent method. 

Frequent Reports. — The union treasurer should make 
frequent and regular reports as to the condition of the 
treasury, and should not allow the union finances to 
fall behind without notifying all concerned. To this 



UNION FINANCES 71 

end among many others a union printed bulletin is a 
good thing. Many unions have gone into debt print- 
ing elaborate and costly papers, unnecessarily large 
and chiefly designed to gratify the ambition of some 
would-be editor or publisher. So far as I have knowl- 
edge, no city union, not even the largest, has made a 
financial success of a Christian Endeavor paper, and 
very many have incurred thereby heavy debts which 
have crippled them financially for years. No union 
has a constituency large enough to support a paper 
containing comments on the prayer-meeting topics, 
general Christian Endeavor articles on methods, Chris- 
tian Endeavor stories, and church news. On the other 
hand, most unions could wisely get out modest bulle- 
tins, perhaps four pages each, and published monthly. 
These would be of inestimable advantage to the union 
as a medium for advertising the meetings and the work 
of the union officers and committees and for aiding the 
treasurer in his money-raising campaign. Such a bul- 
letin would contain advertisements which might pay for 
it, and it should have a very low subscription price. 
Its articles should be bright and brief, and should bear 
particularly, every one of them, on the union work. 
The treasurer and finance committee might well start 
such a bulletin, though it should be managed by a sep- 
arate editorial committee made up of the brightest 
writers in the union. 

A Conference of Christian Endeavor Financiers. — 
The union treasurer should hold early in the union 
year a conference of all the society treasurers, includ- 
ing the members of the society finance committees so 
far as they have been appointed. Of course the mem- 
bers of the union finance committee will be present. 



72 UNION WORK 

The conference will discuss in all its phases the ques- 
tion of the raising of money for the support of the 
union and of the local societies and for the missionary 
gifts of the societies. These conferences will be very 
practical, and will lead to definite money-raising cam- 
paigns in the societies and throughout the union. A 
later conference may well be held for reports of prog- 
ress and for solving the difficulties which the workers 
may meet. 

County and State Union Treasurers. — The work of 
these officers is so similar to that of the local-union 
treasurer that a separate description is not necessary. 
In these larger unions finance committees are positively 
needed, and the budget system is here a necessity. 
The same methods of raising money are wise in all 
kinds of Christian Endeavor unions. The same regard 
must be had for the inspiration of zeal for the union, 
and in them all money-raising must be based upon the 
love for the work that is implanted in the hearts of 
the Endeavorers. 

The Salaries of Field Secretaries. — The work of the 
field secretary who gives his entire time to the State 
union is so helpful and vital that it justifies the pay- 
ment of a living salary, even though this greatly in- 
creases the financial necessities of the union. Some- 
times the field secretary raises his own salary largely 
by collections taken at his meetings. This, however, 
is a heavy handicap upon his work and limits his use- 
fulness, so that the collections he may make should be 
regarded as merely incidental and the union should not 
rely upon them for his salary any more than is strictly 
necessary. Some field secretaries have made the State 
Christian Endeavor paper pay a part or even all of 



UNION FINANCES 73 

their salaries, but these are very exceptional instances. 
Too often the State paper is an expense to the State 
rather than an asset. It should be regarded more as a 
medium of communication, and a very useful one, than 
as a means of money-raising. 

Convention Money-Raising.— Some State treasurers 
notify the societies in advance of the State convention 
how much money will be needed by the State union 
during the coming year, and ask that their delegates 
be authorized to pledge the societies at the convention 
for generous sums, or the proportion of each society 
may be stated. Then a part of a convention session is 
devoted to the raising of the funds for the year, or the 
work may be done quietly by the collecting of written 
pledges in the course of the convention. In any event 
the societies should have before them a definite state- 
ment of how much money will be needed by each 
department during the coming year — a well-planned 
budget. 

Some State treasurers have obtained fine results from 
the recognition of counties or districts that have come 
up to their apportionments as " banner counties," to 
which banners are awarded, either literally or figura- 
tively. A State paper is almost a necessity if a 
" banner " campaign is to be carried on. 

Combination of Appeals. — It confuses and displeases 
societies and especially their pastors if separate appeals 
are made during the year by the local union, the 
county or district union, and the State union. The 
treasurers of all these unions should work together. 
The State union should raise its money through the 
counties and districts, and the latter should raise their 
money through the local unions, where they exist. 



74 UNION WOEK 

Thus each local union will place in its budget a certain 
sum for the county union, and each county union will 
place in its budget a certain sum for the State union, 
so that the local societies will make only one gift to a 
union, and that will be the local union. This plan 
calls for the closest co-operation among the unions and 
for the formation of plans and the making of budgets 
very early in the church year ; but both the co-opera- 
tion and the promptness are great gains from every 
point of view. Moreover, they furnish still another 
element in the education of our young people for the 
great work of money -raising for the kingdom of God 
to which some of them, and perhaps many of them, 
will be called after they have completed their training 
in Christian Endeavor. 



Class Work on Chapter VII 

The Leader's Questions 
Why do unions need money ? 
Why may it not be raised by dues or assessments ? 
What kind of person should the union treasurer be ? 
What is the work of the finance committee ? 
What is a union budget ? 

What are some good ways of raising union money ? 
What reports should the treasurer make ? 
What conference should he conduct ? 
What points are to be noted in the finances of the larger 
unions ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 

The Educative Yalue of Money-Raising. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that the union should encourage the practice 
of tithe-paying. 



CHAPTER VIII 
THE UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

The Heart of the Union.— A good executive com- 
mittee with regular and enthusiastic meetings always 
means an active and successful Christian Endeavor 
union. And the converse is true : a weak and inactive 
executive committee, with meetings few, irregular, and 
spiritless, always means a feeble union, doing little and 
doing that little in a lifeless way. 

This is because the executive committee brings to- 
gether the heads of the union work, all the heads. Its 
meetings give an opportunity for that consultation 
which is the life of all business. If the president of a 
union tries to do everything, he will fail miserably. 
The very essence of Christian Endeavor is co-operation. 
"Everybody is wiser than anybody." Our Christian 
Endeavor prayer meetings are successful because each 
member contributes a little. Our unions will be suc- 
cessful on the same principle. If the union president 
looks well to his executive-committee meeting, he need 
not fear for the rest of the union work. 

How Large Should the Executive Committee Be ? — 
The ideal union executive committee will consist, in 
the first place, of all the officers of the union, and of 
the chairmen of all the union committees or depart- 
ment superintendents. This will make a sufficiently 
large committee for the transaction of business. 

75 



76 UNION WORK 

4 

Usually, however, the executive committee may well 
add to its membership the presidents of all the societies 
in the union. They will greatly strengthen the ex- 
ecutive committee, and at once put it into the closest 
possible touch with the societies. If this would make 
the executive committee unwieldy, then the presidents 
must be reached in some other way. The success of 
most of the union undertakings depends upon reaching 
the societies with the union plans, and they can best 
be reached through the presidents. We need not fear 
executive committees of considerable size, especially if 
the plans for executive-committee meetings suggested 
below are carried out. Some of them require numbers 
for enthusiasm and effectiveness. Moreover, it must not 
be forgotten that the actual work of the union is done 
by the committees of the union, and that the executive- 
committee meetings are for deliberation and decision 
regarding the large outlines of the work. Therefore, 
on the whole, I favor the inclusion of the society 
presidents in the executive committee, at least for the 
regular meetings of the committee, while power may 
be given to the president and his cabinet of officers to 
take quick action on details between the meetings of 
the full committee, if such action is found necessary. 

Time and Place of the Meetings. — It is best that the 
union executive committee should have a regular time 
for its meetings, and the time in most cases should be 
once a month, on whatever day is most convenient, say 
the first Monday evening. Nothing should be allowed 
to prevent the meeting. Whoever must be absent, 
even if half the members are away, let the rest gather 
and talk over the affairs of the union. Impress upon 
the members of the committee the importance of their 
work and the necessity for regular attendance if the 



THE UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 77 

union is to prosper. Urge them to set down the date 
as a previous engagement, taking precedence of all 
other engagements. Follow up every absence as care- 
fully as an absence from the consecration meeting in a 
local society. 

And if a regular time is advantageous, so is a regular 
place. The place should be central, and always avail- 
able. The president's home is a good place, if it has 
a room large enough. Some unions rent a room for 
the meeting-place. Some central church may have a 
room that will be given up to the committee on its 
regular evenings. If a meeting-place and a meeting- 
time can be set apart for a series of years and for one 
administration after another, attendance will become 
more and more a habit and the union will gain much 
from this persistency. 

The Essentials of a Good Executive-Committee 
Meeting. — The first element of every executive-com- 
mittee meeting, after the opening devotional service, 
should be reports from all the officers and committee 
chairmen, telling what has been done during the past 
month, and especially what progress has been made on 
the new plan formed for the officer or committee at 
the last meeting. Next will come a period devoted to 
general questions, every one being free to bring up any 
problem or preplexity that has arisen in the course of 
the work. The third portion of the time will be spent 
in deciding upon some one plan for each officer and 
committee to work upon during the coming month. 
It may be the continuance of the plan adopted at the 
previous meeting, if that plan has not been completely 
carried out and it seems best to continue it ; otherwise 
it will be a brand-new plan. The president will have 



78 UNION WOEK 

a suggestion ready perhaps for every officer and com- 
mittee, in case the officer or committee has nothing 
ready to suggest. He will ask also for proposals from 
the main body of the committee. The plan that seems 
best will be adopted. This definite fixing upon some 
fresh line of work for each officer and committee is 
very important, and should be insisted upon. In pro- 
portion as it is thoroughly and wisely done is the union 
likely to advance in usefulness and power. Next may 
come the consideration of the general condition of the 
union, briefly set forth by the president or the chair- 
man of the union lookout committee, followed by sug- 
gestions from the other members. And finally some 
very earnest prayers will be offered, asking for the 
blessing of the Master upon the work undertaken in 
His name. It will be seen that an executive-committee 
meeting having these elements cannot 'fail to be a real 
power in a Christian Endeavor union, leading it to 
genuine service and to increasing strength. 

The Executive-Committee Supper. — It will be very 
much easier for the young business men to attend the 
meetings of the executive committee if they can go 
right from their business and take supper with the com- 
mittee. At the table the affairs of the union will be 
discussed informally, and the business will be in good 
shape for rapid transaction after supper. The pleasant 
social intercourse brings the members of the committee 
very closely together, and they soon become firm 
friends. The plan has so many advantages that it has 
been adopted by a number of unions, in spite of the 
trouble involved. Sometimes the supper is at some 
restaurant where a room is regularly set apart for the 
committee and the supper is all ready for them on the 



THE UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 79 

appointed nights. Sometimes the society of a centrally 
located church gets up the supper and makes a slight 
profit from it. Sometimes an inexpensive hotel is 
patronized. 

Speakers at the Executive-Committee Meetings. — 
It is well to give eclat to the meetings of the executive 
committee by having some good speaker talk on a 
general subject connected with the work — some prin- 
ciple of Christian Endeavor or some important form of 
Christian service appropriate to the union. The speaker 
will be some one who recognizes the value of such an 
important body of young workers, though they are 
comparatively few in number, and is glad to set his 
thoughts before a group that will be eager and able to 
carry them out. 

If it is not feasible to obtain such a speaker, you may 
have a general discussion of some large principle or line 
of work, several members of the committee being pre- 
pared to start the discussion and lead it to a helpful 
conclusion. If it works out well, the discussion may 
furnish a theme for a union mass meeting and possibly 
may supply some of the speakers. 

The Executive Committee and the Union Mass 
Meetings. — This leads us to speak of the relation be- 
tween the executive committee and the general plans 
for the mass meetings of the union. The president will 
lay before the committee his central idea for the com- 
ing meeting before he makes a complete programme or 
obtains any speakers, and he will receive many valuable 
suggestions as to both ; perhaps, indeed, some theme 
will be proposed that will be substituted for the subject 
he had in mind. If the planning for the mass meeting 



80 UNION WOEK 

becomes a one-man affair, the audience also is likely 
to become a one-man affair ! 

Special Meetings of the Executive Committee. — 
Sometimes, in order to bring a certain society or a cer- 
tain part of the city into closer touch with the work of 
the union, it will be best to hold a special meeting of 
the committee in a place quite distant from the usual 
place. The time may be the usual time, but even this 
may need to be changed. The local society will fur- 
nish a simple supper for the committee, and the busi- 
ness of the committee will be transacted during the 
meal and immediately after it. Then the evening will 
be filled with a public meeting in the main auditorium 
of the church. This meeting will be well advertised, 
and will be addressed by the ablest speakers in the 
executive committee. They will talk about Christian 
Endeavor in general, and the work of the union in 
particular. They will introduce many facts and will 
put the whole as brightly as possible, so that the meet- 
ing will be an attractive advertisement of our society 
and its work and a general inspiration to Christian En- 
deavor in that church. 

Christian Endeavor Literature at the Executive- 
Committee Meetings.— Some unions have made a great 
success of the executive-committee meetings in the 
matter of the introduction of the latest and best Chris- 
tian Endeavor helps. A committee of the union or its 
secretary obtains these helps from the United Society 
as they are issued, and they are attractively exhibited 
during the meeting, with the result that the members 
of the societies present take them away and introduce 
them in turn into their own societies. This is a great 



the uxion EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 81 

advantage to the United Society, and an advantage 
equally great to the local work. 

The Pastoral Counsellor in the Executive Commit- 
tee. — We have said that every union officer should be 
present at the meetings of the executive committee. 
This applies especially to the pastoral counsellor, who 
should be urged to be present as often as is consistent 
with his many duties as a pastor. Indeed, the choice 
of a pastoral counsellor will be determined largely by 
his ability to go to the executive-committee meetings 
with a fair degree of regularity, since in no other way 
can he gain a thorough knowledge of the aims and 
methods of union work. No important plan will be 
adopted without his advice and approval, representing 
the advice and approval of the pastors and the churches. 

A Unifying Plan.— Often the welfare of the union 
requires that it should unify its workers by the adop- 
tion of some large task which will draw them all to- 
gether and compel them to do their best. This task, 
of course, will respond to some pressing need of the 
community, or the Endeavorers will not be zealous for 
it and obtain the support of the community in it. It 
may be proposed by the president or some other officer, 
or it may grow out of the work of one of the union 
committees. Whatever it is, labor upon it will fuse 
the union into a vigorous whole, and make it far easier 
to win new triumphs in the future. 

The Executive Committee in the Societies.— If the 
work of the executive committee is to amount to any- 
thing, it must go down into the societies and win the 
support and co-operation of the individual Endeavorers 



82 UNION WOEK 

there. If the president of the society is a member of 
the executive committee ex ejjicio, he will be expected 
to tell his society about the executive-committee plans 
and interest the society in them. If the society presi- 
dents are not members of the executive committee, the 
committee will see that in some way its plans are re- 
ported to every society. Some societies will be repre- 
sented on the executive committee by officers and com- 
mittee chairmen, but only a few. It will be necessary 
to arrange for regular visits to the other societies by 
representatives of the committee, bearing the message 
of the committee's desires and purposes. If the union 
is too large for this, then the secretary of the executive 
committee (the secretary of the union) will send to 
each society a printed or manifolded account of the 
committee meeting, and the plans in which the com- 
mittee asks for the co-operation of the societies. Call 
for some written response, and follow up energetically 
the societies that do not make this response. 

The State Executive Committee. — What has been 
said about the executive committee of the local union 
applies very fully to the larger unions of the county, 
district, and State. These will be made up of the 
union officers, and generally there will not be room 
for more. If the State union has denominational vice- 
presidents or representatives from different parts of 
the State, it will be a large and strong body. In some 
States it may be possible to include in the State execu- 
tive committee the presidents of all the city, county, 
and district unions in the State, with a president's 
cabinet of the principal officers for quick action in 
emergencies. 

Meetings of the State executive committee may well 



THE UKIOK EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 83 

be held in different portions of the State during the 
year, that all the members may find it convenient to 
attend at least some of the meetings, and that a num- 
ber of cities may come into touch with the State 
leaders. The afternoon will be spent in planning for 
the State work privately, and the evening will be given 
up to a mass meeting with the members of the State 
executive committee as the speakers. Sometimes these 
meetings of the State executive committee may be held 
in connection with county or district conventions for 
which the members of the State committee will be the 
principal speakers, sandwiching in their committee 
meetings between the sessions. 



Class Work on Chapter VIII 

The Leader's Questions 

AYhy is the executive committee " the heart of the 
union " ? 

How large should the executive committee be ? 

How often should the committee meet ? 

Where should the executive committee meet ? 

What should be the programme of an executive-com- 
mittee meeting ? 

What social features may add interest to the executive- 
committee meeting ? 

What speaking may be obtained for the meeting of the 
executive committee ? 

What special meetings of the executive committee may 
be held ? 

How may the executive committee push the use of 
Christian Endeavor literature ? 



84 UNION WOBK 

What will the pastoral counsellor do in the executive 

committee meeting ? 
What will the executive committee do for the larger 

work of the union ? 
How will the executive committee aid the societies ? 
How will the State executive committee carry on its 

w T ork ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
An Executive Committee That Executes. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union executive committee should 
be larger. 



CHAPTER IX 
THE UNION STRENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 

The Work of Union Lookout Committees. — The 
union lookout committee has functions precisely similar 
to those of the society lookout committee. Its business 
is to keep the societies of the union up to the highest 
level of efficiency, and also to add to the union as many 
new societies as possible. It does this by organizing 
new societies and by persuading those already organized 
of the advantages of membership in the union. 

Not every union has a lookout committee, but all 
should have. Many a society has died because there 
was no outside organization to revive it when it fell 
into a decline. Christian Endeavor in many a locality 
has languished because there was no body of workers 
whose special duty it was to form new societies and 
stimulate those already existing. 

This work is most educative. In the work of the 
church it is frequently necessary to revive languishing 
churches and Sunday schools. It is constantly neces- 
sary in every community to start new churches and 
Sunday schools. What better training for this im- 
portant work than that of the union lookout commit- 
tee ? Every pastor should recognize the strategical 
value of this service for the kingdom of God quite apart 
from its undoubted value as a strength for Christian 
Endeavor. 

The Organization of Union Lookout Committees. — 
The chairman of the union lookout committee should 

85 



86 UNION WOEK 

be some one with a thorough knowledge of Christian 
Endeavor and burning zeal for our society. His com- 
mittee should be made up of persons likewise well 
informed and zealous, though they may not all have 
the chairman's ability as a leader. If the union is 
small every society may be represented upon this com- 
mittee, usually by the chairman of the society lookout 
committee. If the union is large, then active Endeav- 
orers from all sections of the city will be placed upon 
the union lookout committee, and care should also be 
taken to obtain upon that committee a good representa- 
tion of all the denominations in the union. The com- 
mittee will need a secretary, and it should hold regular 
meetings at least once a month ; oftener than this at 
the beginning of the year. 

Pastoral Counsellors. — Every union should have a 
pastoral counsellor whose work will be so closely asso- 
ciated with that of the lookout committee that he may 
well be made an ex officio member of it, besides sitting 
with the union executive committee at all their im- 
portant sessions and advising the president of the union 
in all the union's important undertakings. 

The pastoral counsellor is to represent the pastors of 
the town or city in all the larger aspects of Christian 
Endeavor. He will be chosen by the ministers' meeting 
of the town, if there is one. Lacking that, he will be 
chosen by the union itself, the different denominations 
furnishing a representative in turn. Two years is a 
good term of service. 

The pastoral counsellor should be in hearty sympathy 
with the society of Christian Endeavor. He should 
also be a man held in honor by his brother ministers 
and very influential among them. It is his work to 



STKENGTHENISTG THE SOCIETIES 87 

represent the union among the ministers and the min- 
isters in all the affairs of the union. If the union ex- 
ecutive, for instance, is in doubt whether the plan of a 
union Bible-study class would be approved by the pas- 
tors, they will turn for advice to the pastoral counsellor, 
who will give his opinion, usually consulting his brother 
ministers. If there is doubt regarding a proposed form 
of entertainment, it will be submitted to the pastoral 
counsellor. If some large enterprise is undertaken by 
the union, such as the establishment of regular work in 
a hospital or a country home for poor children, the 
pastoral counsellor will be consulted before any con- 
clusive step is taken. 

Also the pastoral counsellor will be exceedingly useful 
in the extension work of the union. When it is desired 
to establish a new society in a certain church, the pas- 
toral counsellor will approach the pastor of that church 
and show him what a fine agency for good the society 
is. He will remove the misconceptions of Christian 
Endeavor that may exist in the minds of his brethren. 
He will defend Christian Endeavor in the denomina. 
tional and ministerial gatherings and in the public 
press. He will be a tower of strength to the society. 

Due honor will be paid to the pastoral counsellor. 
He will often be asked to take part in the mass meet- 
ings of the union. His name will be given a conspicuous 
position on the union stationery. Former pastoral 
counsellors will not be forgotten, but will often be 
brought into the union gatherings and shown that they 
are held in grateful memory. 

It will be seen how useful a pastoral counsellor will 
be to the union lookout committee. While you will 
remember that he is a busy pastor, and will refrain 
from making unreasonable demands upon his time, yet 



88 UNION WOEK 

you will obtain his presence at the lookout-committee 
meetings when you can, and you will take to him all 
important committee matters. Above all, you will 
seek to obtain his active advocacy of the society among 
the pastors that have no society in their churches. 

Openings for New Societies.— Probably there is not 
a Christian Endeavor union anywhere, however well 
the community is already organized for Christian En- 
deavor, but might be doubled if all the definite open- 
ings for new societies w T ere filled. The most obvious 
lack is of Junior societies. There might be a Junior 
society in every church with a Young People's society. 
As it is, less than half the Young People's societies are 
matched by Junior societies. The union lookout com- 
mittee does not need to hunt up the children. They 
are there, and eager for the Junior society. What it 
needs to do is to lay the blessed duty and privilege of 
being a Junior superintendent upon some worker and 
help him or her to organize a Junior society. Little 
advantage is taken of the plan for conducting Junior 
societies by Junior committees from the older Christian 
Endeavor societies, thus dividing the work and respon- 
sibility of the superintendent. The proper advocacy 
and use of this method would add many thousands to 
the number of Junior societies now existing. 

The same may be said of the Intermediate society. 
This has a place in almost every church on account of 
the desire of young people of Intermediate age to be 
by themselves. It is of especial advantage in the 
larger churches, where the graduates from the Junior 
societies are lost in the Young People's societies, and 
often fall from activity into a state of stagnation. 

Few churches have maternal associations, and thou- 



STRENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 89 

sands of Mothers' Societies of Christian Endeavor 
should be formed, not only to act as aids of the Junior 
societies, but to give the mothers inspiration and direc- 
tion in the rearing of children and the management of 
Christian homes. 

The Senior Society of Christian Endeavor is for the 
reception of graduates from the Young People's society. 
Its prayer meeting is the regular church prayer meet- 
ing, to which it is a tower of strength. It is a great 
blessing to any pastor and a great aid to any church in 
which it is established. 

Office societies of Christian Endeavor are of service 
in commercial establishments, bringing together the 
Christian employees and banding them together for 
the winning of their associates and for many other 
forms of helpfulness. 

Societies formed among prisoners with the co-opera- 
tion of the wardens and chaplains have proved of 
immense benefit to the inmates. Societies formed on 
sailing vessels, in street-car barns, in old ladies' homes, 
in hospitals, among the attendants in asylums of various 
kinds, in army posts, among the policemen and surfmen 
— all these have been greatly blessed by God. Inter- 
mediate societies in high schools have proved to be a 
stronger agency for the uplift of high-school pupils 
than any other ever tried. 

All of these are forms of Christian Endeavor that 
are not fully developed, probably, in any community 
in the world. They offer a vast field for union lookout 
committees, a field full of inviting possibilities, easy 
and pleasant to work, and certain to yield rich returns. 

It is also possible for the union lookout committee 
to change many a denominational young people's so- 
ciety into a Christian Endeavor society with the hearty 



90 UNION WOEK 

approval of the pastor and the willing consent of the 
denominational authorities. This is because many de- 
nominations that have special denominational societies 
are entirely willing to enroll Christian Endeavor so- 
cieties in their denominational organizations without 
change of name and without their dropping the Chris- 
tian Endeavor interdenominational fellowship. If the 
union lookout committee explains this to the pastors 
and young people, backing up their statements with 
denominational literature, they can often extend the 
circle of Christian Endeavor and give to isolated de- 
nominational societies the tremendous advantages of 
our unions. Here the help of the pastoral counsellor 
will be most efficient. 

Organizing New Societies. — When the lookout com- 
mittee of the union has found an opening for a new 
society it may need to work quietly a long time before 
it has gained a foothold for Christian Endeavor. If 
the new society opening is in a church it will first, of 
course, learn the attitude of the pastor. If he favors 
it, the rest is easy. If he opposes, you must learn why 
he objects and must remove his objections. Here the 
pastoral counsellor will aid you, and } T ou will be greatly 
assisted by obtaining answers to the pastor's objections 
from the State Christian Endeavor officers and the 
officers of the United Society of Christian Endeavor. 
Often printed matter can be obtained which will re- 
move the pastor's misconception and answer his argu- 
ment. It is, of course, useless to try to proceed till the 
pastor is heartily in favor of the step. 

If the proposed society is to be organized elsewhere 
than in a church, there will usually be some head man 
to consult and win — the members of the firm if it is in 



STBENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 91 

a shop, the principal of the school if it is in a high 
school, the warden and chaplain if it is in a prison, the 
captain and chaplain if it is on board a vessel of the 
navy, etc. Patience and tact will win here, though 
you may need to work for months. 

Then you need to work with the young people con- 
cerned (or the adults if the society is for adults). 
Experience shows that you will have no trouble here. 
The society carries its own appeal. Everywhere it is 
liked, once the conservatism or prejudice of the heads 
of institutions is broken down. 

After obtaining by many conversations the gradual 
assent of the leaders among the young people (if it is 
to be a Young People's society) and their consent to join 
as charter members, you will call a meeting of all the 
young people of the church, leaving it with the young 
people already interested to give the invitation as 
widely as possible. To this meeting the union lookout 
committee will come in force. The chairman will 
speak enthusiastically of the value of Christian En- 
deavor, and various members of the committee will 
testify of the same, each speaking of the workings of 
the society in a different particular, so that the little 
speeches are cumulative. 

Then you will have a word from as many of the 
young people present as will speak, saying that they 
propose to join the new society. Finally, you will call 
for a vote on the formation of the society, it being 
understood that all voting in the affirmative will join 
as active or associate members. 

The next step is the adoption of a tentative constitu- 
tion which has been drawn up in advance. This will 
be read, section by section, and adopted as read, with 
the understanding that it is subject to change as ex- 



92 UNION WOEK 

perience ma}^ direct. A nominating committee will be 
appointed and will bring in nominations for the first 
set of officers. These will be largely agreed upon in 
advance, as the launching of the new society depends 
so much for its success upon the ability and consecra- 
tion of the first officers. The newly chosen president 
will then announce the first prayer meeting with its 
subject, and will call a meeting of the new executive 
committee for a certain night. The meeting will close 
with words by the pastor and with his closing prayer 
and benediction on the new organization. 

With changes made necessary by the different circum- 
stances, essentially the same process will be followed 
in the organization of a Christian Endeavor society of 
any type. 

Organizing Campaigns. — It is well for the entire 
force of a Christian Endeavor union to be focused 
occasionally upon the work of organizing new societies. 
If a strong movement can be set on foot, some churches 
may be swept into the current that could not otherwise 
be touched. Besides, many Endeavorers will work 
with more zeal and industry if they know that many 
others are working with them. 

Such a time is provided in each Christian Endeavor 
Week. The union lookout committee should look 
forward to this day and prepare for it through many 
preceding weeks. Lay plans for as many different 
kinds of societies as you can, and for new societies in 
as many churches as you can reach. Announce your 
plans and expectations as fast as they mature for the 
inspiration of the workers, but save for Christian En- 
deavor Week the completion of as many acts of 
organization as you can. What a glorious thing it 



STRENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 93 

would be if on Organization Day of that week a dozen 
new societies should be formed in your community ! 
What golden fruit would spring from that day through 
all coming years ! 

Reviving Dead Societies.— It must not be forgotten 
that it counts just as much for the kingdom of God to 
revive a society that is dead as to form an altogether 
new society. Sometimes the society died because of 
the opposition of a pastor who did not understand 
Christian Endeavor. That pastor has gone to another 
church and the way is clear for the reviving of the 
society. Perhaps the society died because it got into 
the hands of old members who did not train young 
members to take their places. Now the old members 
have left the work, and a new society can be formed 
wholly of the young people. Perhaps it is a Junior 
society that was given up when the superintendent got 
married, and now you can start it again led by a Junior 
committee from the Young People's society. 

This revival of a dead society may be attended with 
as much joy and exultation as the founding of a new 
society. Get the help of the former members. In- 
corporate them in the society, if they have not grown 
too old. At any rate, obtain their co-operation. Learn 
what mistakes were made in the conduct of the old 
society, and see that they are not repeated. Start the 
new society with the freshest and best methods upon 
the highway of a permanent success. 

Surveying the Field. — The first work of the union 
lookout committee as it enters upon its task of bettering 
the societies is to learn in what particulars each society 
needs bettering. This it can do in two ways, by writ- 



94 UNION WOKK 

ing to the society and obtaining answers to a list of 
questions, and by visiting the society and getting the 
facts by observation and conversation. The first 
method is more rapid, but far less satisfactory. Prob- 
ably it may wisely be used as an entering wedge, but 
it should always be followed up with personal visits as 
soon as feasible. 

In asking for information from the societies the 
lookout committee will be guided by the information 
already available gathered by preceding committees. 
It will need to know the membership of each society, 
and the number of members of each class. It will need 
to know what committees each society has, and to get 
some idea what kind of work each committee is doing. 
It will need to know the average attendance at the 
prayer meetings, and the ways in which the members 
take part. It will need to know about gifts to missions 
and to the union work. It will inquire about the 
socials and the business meetings, and whether the 
executive committee meets regularly. And it will ask 
about the number of young people in the community 
and how well the society is filling its field. 

Of course, with so much work to be done, the look- 
out committee must fix upon a few definite things to 
be attempted first, and its search for information will 
at first emphasize these points whatever other points 
may be included. 

The societies may be divided among the members of 
the committee, one to each, and the committee will 
meet regularly once a week for a time to hear reports 
from the visitors and devise plans for helping the so- 
cieties overcome the difficulties and correct the faults 
which these visits have discovered. If a member from 
each society is a part of the lookout committee of the 



STEEXGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 95 

union, this member will be made responsible for the 
carrying out in his own society of the committee's sug- 
gestions and for reporting on the matter to the com- 
mittee from time to time. 

Inter-society Visitation.— An excellent way of stim- 
ulating the societies is for the union lookout committee 
to arrange a scheme of inter-society visitation. Agree- 
ing to this plan, each society in the union will receive 
at every prayer meeting for a time a delegate from 
some other society, and will send a delegate to some 
other society. The delegates will learn from the so- 
cieties they visit, and will report to their home societies 
what they have learned. They will speak in the prayer 
meetings they visit and will tell about the work of their 
own society, giving points to the society visited. The 
plan will be continued till every society has received a 
visit from the representative of every other society in 
the union, unless the union is too large for that ; at 
any rate, from every society in the same section of the 
city. 

Furnishing Leaders. — At another time the union 
lookout committee may furnish to the societies prayer- 
meeting leaders from other societies. For this service 
those Encleavorers only will be chosen that are espe- 
cially skilled in leading prayer meetings in original and 
helpful ways. Each leader that comes thus to a society 
will give its members new ideas and stimulate them to 
better work. 

Lookout-Committee Conferences. — Early in the year 
the union lookout committee will hold a conference 
with the members of all the lookout committees of the 



96 UNION WORK 

societies in the union, or sectional conferences if the 
union is too large for a single conference. The union 
chairman may preside, and the different subjects dis- 
cussed will be opened by Endeavorers from the different 
societies that have been especially successful along 
those lines. Many topics will be treated, such as how 
to enlarge a society, how to answer objections to the 
pledge, how to better the prayer meetings, how to keep 
members faithful to the pledge, how to make the asso- 
ciate members active, how to increase the spiritual 
value of the prayer meetings, and how to introduce new 
members to the society work. Leave ample time for a 
question-box or for the oral introduction of any per- 
plexity that any one present may wish to bring up. 
Close with an acquaintance half-hour and light refresh- 
ments. Be sure to use the evening in part for interest- 
ing the members of the local lookout committees in the 
work of the union lookout committee, especially the 
forming of new societies. 

Reports from the Societies.— When the lookout com- 
mittee sets out to improve the societies in any special 
way, it will ask for regular and frequent reports from 
the societies along this line. This will be in addition 
to whatever reports the union secretary may begetting. 
For instance, if the union lookout committee is trying 
to get the societies to make more of the associate mem- 
bers, it will hear from the societies often regarding the 
status of those members, giving whatever plans have 
been found useful for leading them to become active 
and getting them to join the church. Of course the 
facts thus gathered may be desired by the union secre- 
tary, and if so should be handed over to him for incor- 
poration in his statistics. 



STBEXGTHEXING THE SOCIETIES 97 

Membership Campaigns. — The union lookout com- 
mittee may well stimulate the societies to enlarge their 
membership by instituting membership campaigns. To 
this end it will describe for the societies approved 
methods of work, such as " red and blue contests." It 
may offer some reward for the society that gains the 
largest number of new members by a certain day. The 
leaders of the different bands at work in these local 
efforts may hold a conference on methods, over which 
the union chairman will preside. On the conclusion of 
the campaign the results will be reported at a union 
meeting, and some of the experiences of the workers 
will be related. 

Efficiency Campaigns. — Similar united efforts for 
improving the efficiency of the societies may be or- 
ganized by the union lookout committee. Use for this 
purpose the general model of efficiency set forth in the 
efficiency chart of the United Society. Ask the socie- 
ties to make as much progress as they can in percentage 
within a certain time. Hold a meeting of the chair- 
men of the local lookout committees for the fixing of 
the present percentages of the societies, the union chair- 
man passing on doubtful points. With these per cents 
as bases the contest will start, the society that gains 
the largest number of per cents being declared the 
winner. This contest also, with its results and experi- 
ences, will furnish material for an interesting union 
meeting. 

Expert Classes. — Every society should have a class 
in the United Society's text-book, " Expert Endeavor," 
once a year, and the union lookout committee should 
first have a class for the training of leaders of these 



98 UNION WORK 

society classes. An experienced Endeavorer will lead 
the training class. Several chapters will be discussed 
at each sitting, and a thorough examination will be 
held at the close. Those that pass will receive the 
degree of Christian Endeavor Expert, and will be 
allowed to wear the Expert pin. Many thousands have 
pursued this study with great pleasure and profit. 
The societies will take it up readily, and the union 
lookout committee can do nothing better for the 
work than to develop these classes in " Expert En- 
deavor." The study introduces the best methods for 
each officer and committee and line of work, as well 
as dealing in the history and principles of Christian 
Endeavor. 

Lookout Work in the Union Meetings.— Whenever 
the lookout committee of the union has a point regard- 
ing the improvement of the societies or the growth of 
the union that it especially wishes to make, it should 
take advantage of the union mass meetings and get in 
a bright talk on the subject. The betterment of the 
prayer meetings, better singing, more prayers in the 
meetings, personal evangelism, fidelity to the pledge — 
such subjects as these make the Yery best themes for 
the union meetings, and may well occupy the very best 
speakers. Whoever prepares the union programmes 
will be glad to carry out occasional suggestions from 
the union lookout committee along this line. 

Then, too, the lookout committee may wish to inter- 
est certain societies in the union, and to that end may 
bring them into the union meetings for the furnishing 
of certain features — taking part in an open meeting, or 
furnishing a series of one-minute talks, or getting up a 
chorus to sing. 



STRENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 99 

A Union Pledge. — The union lookout committee may 
well make use of the great power of the pledge in its 
work of arousing and maintaining interest in the union 
on the part of the societies. Propose to the members 
of the societies some such pledge as the following : 
" Believing in the fellowship of the churches and the 
co-operation of Christians, and desiring to unite with 
the Endeavorers of other churches in work for Christ's 
kingdom, I promise loyalty to the Christian Endeavor 

union of , by customary attendance and 

hearty support." 

That is a reasonable pledge, as all Endeavorers will 
admit. Present it at a meeting of the union executive 
committee, and win their enthusiastic approval. Have 
it presented to each society by an earnest speaker, who 
will tell how much the union work means to Christian 
Endeavor and to the cause of Christ. Distribute the 
pledge on slips of paper with pencils, and call for 
signatures on the spot. Kefer to the union pledge 
often in the union meetings, and make it as strong 
a feature of union work as the society pledge is of 
society work. You will find the gains to be immediate 
and large. 

Co-operation with Other Union Committees. — The 
lookout committee will not duplicate the work of other 
union committees, but will merely co-operate with 
those that approach its own line of work. For ex- 
ample, if there is a union music committee it will help 
the societies in their music, and the lookout committee 
will not touch this particular field. So with the union 
missionary committee, social committee, finance com- 
mittee, and the like. On the other hand, these are all 
matters in which the societies should be stimulated by 



100 UNION WOEK 

the union lookout committee, if there are no union 
committees doing the work. 

County, District, and State Lookout Committees. — 
Every county and district union should have a lookout 
committee, which will be in close connection with the 
union lookout committees, and will work through 
them, bat will also aid the societies in the rural 
regions not reached by the city unions. It is in this 
work that the county or district lookout committee can 
be especially useful. New societies need to be estab- 
lished in these outlying regions. There is many a 
country schoolhouse where a society might be formed 
that would prove to be the greatest blessing to the 
community, doing much of the work of a church, start- 
ing and maintaining a Sunday school, perhaps in time 
establishing a new church there. 

The executive committee of the State union usually 
takes on itself the functions of a State lookout com- 
mittee ; but if it does not, then a State lookout com- 
mittee should be formed. The work of this committee 
would be to co-ordinate the work of the district and 
county and city union committees, and keep them up 
to the full measure of their tasks. What the other 
lookout committees do for societies, in forming them 
and stimulating them to do their best, the State look- 
out committee will do for unions, establishing new 
ones where they are needed and putting the best meth- 
ods into all of them. There is great need of such a 
committee in every State union, for usually the State 
secretary or the field secretary is left to do this heavy 
work alone, together with much besides that is far too 
burdensome for one man. 



STRENGTHENING THE SOCIETIES 101 



Class Work on Chapter IX 

The Leaders Questions 

What is the work of the union lookout committee ? 

Ho\\ r is the committee organized ? 

What is the work of the pastoral counsellor ? 

What kinds of new societies may be formed ? 

How may a new society be organized ? 

How may a dead society be revived ? 

What smweys of the field should the lookout committee 
make ? 

How may the union lookout committee aid the soci- 
eties directly ? 

What conference should the lookout committee hold ? 

How is a membership campaign conducted? 

How is an efficiency campaign conducted ? 

How is an expert class conducted ? 

How can the lookout committee aid the union meet- 
ings? 

What is the union pledge ? 

What is the work of the lookout committee in the 
larger unions ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Committee That Looks Out and In. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union needs an efficiency campaign. 



CHAPTER X 

UNION WOEK FOR THE CHURCHES 

A Union Church-Work Committee.— Since Chris- 
tian Endeavor has for its motto " For Christ and the 
Church," our unions should be doing some work di- 
rectly for the churches of their community and the 
denominations to which they belong, and to further 
such work it is well to appoint in every union a 
church-work committee. This committee should be 
headed by some active and versatile church worker, 
and should have such workers for its members, taking 
them from a wide range geographically and denomina- 
tionally. This chapter describes only a small part of 
the work this committee may do, for that work de- 
pends largely upon local circumstances and will develop 
constantly with the interest and zeal of the workers. 

Denominational Committees.— One of the first pieces 
of work that the union church-work committee may do 
is the establishing of denominational committees in the 
societies. These committees will be in close touch with 
the denominational boards, especially the boards of 
home and foreign missions. They will keep track of 
what these boards are asking from the churches and 
the young people's societies, and they will see that the 
Endeavorers carry out these wishes so far as their own 
societies are concerned, and in their churches also so 
far as they can exert influence. This committee in each 

102 



UNION WOEK FOR THE CHURCHES 103 

society will attend to the local circulation of denomina- 
tional papers, and will see that items of denominational 
news are reported in the Christian Endeavor prayer 
meetings from time to time. They will also keep well 
informed regarding the needs of the local church, so 
far as the Endeavorers can help to meet them, and will 
be a church- work committee as well as a denomina- 
tional committee. Conferences of these denominational 
committees will be held once or twice a year under the 
leadership of the union church- work committee, and 
here plans will be discussed and adopted for the helping 
of the churches on the largest scale possible to the En- 
deavorers. 

A Church Workers' Conference.— It is always as- 
tonishing to learn how many of our Endeavorers are 
already officers of the church or members of church 
committees. Once a year the church-work committee 
of the union will hold a conference of these Christian 
Endeavor church officers, for the sake of discussing 
their duties and stimulating them to better service. 
At this conference have representatives of the different 
officers give little papers or talks each on his own 
work, which will then be freely discussed. Some 
church treasurer will talk about the raising of church 
money ; some deacon will discuss the work of deacons 
and how it may be better done ; a church chorister 
will discuss church music, and so on. The union com- 
mittee will have a few veteran church officers present 
with their advice. 

In the Ministers' Meetings. — The union has a repre- 
sentative of the ministers in its pastoral counsellor ; it 
would be well if the ministers could have a representa- 



104 UNION WOEK 

tive of the union in their ministers' meetings, and the 
president of the union would be the most suitable 
representative. Of course, the pastoral counsellor is 
there ; but some young man in the closest possible 
touch with the Endeavorers would be helpful to the 
ministers many times, and would gain much for the 
union from this inside view of the hopes and desires 
and opinions of the pastors. This representation can- 
not well be asked by the union, but the offer of it 
should be promptly accepted if it comes from the 
ministers. 

A Religious Census. — Occasionally in every rapidly 
growing community a religious census should be made, 
and the forces of the Christian Endeavor union, repre- 
senting usually all denominations, would be ideal for 
making this census. Under the guidance of the pastoral 
counsellor the entire city or town will be mapped out, 
blanks will be furnished and carefully explained, the 
Endeavorers will be drilled in the work expected of 
them and the streets will be divided among them. 
Each house will be visited, the church relations and 
preferences will be learned, and the possibilities of new 
Sunday-school pupils and new members of the Christian 
Endeavor societies will be discovered. Frequent re- 
ports will be made as the work progresses, and the 
whole will be accurately summarized for the ministers' 
meeting and given in detail to the pastors concerned. 

Church Invitations. — The church-work committee of 
the union may get the churches to unite in an invita- 
tion, to be signed by all the pastors, which will state 
where religious services are held each Sunday and 
where prayer meetings are held during the week, the 



UNION WOEK FOE THE CHUECHES 105 

time of each service being stated and a cordial general 
invitation extended. All this will be printed attract- 
ively as a folder, perhaps with pictures of the churches 
and the pastors. The church-work committee will ob- 
tain the help of the societies, which will take the work 
in turn, and copies of this circular will be placed in the 
mail-box of each hotel guest, and laid at the table for 
each boarding-house inmate in. the city. 

Church Bulletin Boards. — Permanent bulletin boards 
advertising the services of the different churches should 
be placed in the railroad stations of every town, hung 
up in the post-office, and put in the shop-windows where 
the merchants are willing. This is work that the union 
church-work committee can do with the co-operation 
of the pastors. Each pastor will be glad to supply a 
cut of his church. Some printer will print the cards 
at a low rate. The union will do the framing at its 
own charges and will put up the bulletins. These 
advertisements of religious work will turn many 
toward the house of God, and influence many a life 
for the right. 

The " Help-Our-Church" Movement. — The union 
church-work committee may establish "help-our- 
church " movements in the societies. The purpose of 
this is to set the young people to considering what 
they can do to help their own churches. Fix a definite 
time for this. Doing it all together will be sure to 
stimulate many societies that otherwise would not 
undertake any work for their own churches ; and 
when once they are started along this line they are 
likely to keep up the work. Each society is to find 
out from its pastor what it can do for the good of the 



106 UNION WOEK 

church, and is to do it within the time set. Then, at 
the end of the time hold a union meeting and listen to 
the glowing reports of what has been accomplished. 
Some will have planted flowering bushes in the church- 
yards. Some will have bought new hymn-books for 
the pews. Some will have painted the church. Some 
will have bought new chandeliers. Some will have 
started a church paper. Some will have made a 
canvass for the increase of church contributions. Some 
will have persuaded a number to join the church. 
The work done will vary widely, but it will all be 
delightful and profitable work, meaning much for the 
future as well as the present. 

Go-to-Church Sunday. — A union church-work com- 
mittee will be able to organize " go-to-church Sunday " 
and make it a great success, as it has already been in 
many localities. It will advertise the idea widely in 
the secular papers and church papers, by posters and 
circulars, and in all the meetings of the church. The 
pastor will preach special sermons, special music will 
be provided and special decorations, and the Christian 
Endeavor society and the Sunday school will have 
special features. All this will be worked up by the 
Endeavorers under the direction of the pastor and with 
the co-operation of other church workers. The result 
is always a greatly increased attendance on that Sun- 
day, and some permanent additions to the congrega- 
tions. 

A Church Prayer-Meeting Campaign. — At another 
time the church- work committee will emphasize the 
clause of our pledge regarding church services, and 
especially the midweek prayer meeting of the church. 



UNION WOBK FOR THE CHURCHES 107 

Each society will be asked to divide itself into four 
bands, one for every week of the month. Members of 
each band will not only attend the church prayer meet- 
ing that week — this is always expected — but will take 
part. Arrange with the pastor to call upon them to 
take part immediately after his opening talk. Their 
participation will be brief r.nd pointed, and, while not 
taking much time, will give the meeting a brisk start 
that will be welcome to the older members present. 
Moreover, it will be the beginning of regular partici- 
pation on the part of many Endeavorers. 

Life- Work Recruits. — No larger work can be done 
for the churches and the denominations than the win- 
ning of new candidates for the ministry and for mis- 
sionary service. This the Christian Endeavor society 
seeks to do through its work for the obtaining of Life- 
Work Recruits. The union church-work committee 
will see that this subject is brought up often in the 
meetings of the union and in the prayer meetings of 
the societies. Whenever the prayer-meeting topic is 
appropriate, which is often, the societies will be re- 
minded of this great cause, and the leaders of the 
meetings will be asked to emphasize it. Personal 
work may be done in co-operation with the pastors, 
seeking to influence toward a life-work decision those 
whom the pastors point out as most fit for the work of 
a minister or a missionary. 

Tithing Crusades.— The Tenth Legion, our Christian 
Endeavor enrollment of tithe-payers, will be pushed in 
every union. Some unions have Tenth Legion super- 
intendents, and all unions should have, even the small- 
est unions ; for the problem which the Tenth Legion 



108 UNION WOEK 

would solve, if universally adopted, is one that particu- 
larly affects the churches of small towns. The Tenth 
Legion superintendent will see to the appointment of 
Tenth Legion superintendents or committees in all the 
societies. These will approach every member with the 
plan of tithe-paying and the arguments for it, and will 
try to get him to try it at least for a month. Few that 
try it ever go back to the old haphazard method of 
giving. 

Song for the Churches. — The union music committee 
may set the music committees of the societies to doing 
much for their churches, particularly by holding song 
services before the church doors to attract passers-by 
into the evening services. Choruses may be formed to 
help out the evening meetings and church prayer meet- 
ings, and in many other ways the singing Endeavorers 
can aid the church. , 

Aiding the Sunday Schools.— If the Sunday schools 
do not seem able to support separate teachers' meet- 
ings, the union church-work committee may plan and 
conduct a union Sunday-school teachers' meeting that 
will be a great blessing. The chapter on Bible study 
details the plans for union Bible-study courses, which 
also will greatly aid the Sunday schools. The union 
church-work committee may bring about the formation 
in the Sunday schools of Christian Endeavor classes 
which each week will study the lesson for the next 
Sunday, so as to be ready to furnish substitute teach- 
ers. So many of the Endeavorers are teachers and 
officers in the Sunday schools that a union conference 
of them may well be arranged for the discussion of im- 
proved Sunday-school methods. 



UNION WORK FOE THE CHURCHES 109 

An Interchurch Mothers' Meeting.— Where the 
churches do not seem disposed to establish separate 
mothers' associations, the union church-work committee 
may form a successful interchurch maternal associa- 
tion, bringing together the mothers of the community 
once a month to listen to wise and helpful talks on 
home life and the care of children, following these 
with free and full discussions and ending with light 
refreshments and a social good time. These mothers' 
associations will be very helpful to the Junior work as 
well as to the mothers. 

See Other Chapters. — Many other chapters in this 
book contain hints for the work that unions may do 
for the helping of the churches and denominations. 
These undertakings are not under the care of the union 
church- work committee but of other union committees, 
such as the press committee, the evangelistic committee, 
and the music committee. If these other committees do 
not take up this work, the union church-w T ork commit- 
tee may suggest it to them ; or, if the others do not 
care to undertake it, they may do the work themselves. 



Class Work on Chapter X 

The Leaders Questions 
What is the work of a church-work committee ? 
What work may denominational committees do ? 
What conference will the union church- work committee 

conduct ? 
What may the union do in a ministers' meeting ? 
How is a religious census made ? 



110 UNION WOEK 

How can the union church-work committee increase 
church attendance ? 

What is the " Help-Our-Church Movement " ? 

How can the union aid " Go-to-Church " Sunday ? 

How is a church prayer-meeting campaign carried on ? 

How can the union promote the enrollment of Life- 
Work Recruits ? 

How can the union promote Christian beneficence ? 

What can the union do to improve church singing ? 

How can the union aid the Sunday schools ? 

What is an interchurch mothers' meeting ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
A Christian Endeavor Church. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that the primary loyalty of the Christian En- 
deavor society is to the church work and not to 
the society work. 



CHAPTER XI 
UNION WORK FOR MISSIONS 

The Union Missionary Committee. — Every Christian 
Endeavor union should have a missionary committee 
for the promotion of missionary work in the societies, 
and for the accomplishment of missionary work that the 
societies can do in co-operation but cannot do singly. 
Missions are the great field of Christian endeavor, and 
therefore they should never be forgotten by any or- 
ganization of Christian Endeavorers. 

The union missionary committee will be made up, if 
the union is not too large, of the chairmen of all the 
missionary committees of the constituent societies of the 
union. If the union is too large for this, then select 
for the union committee the most active and successful 
local missionary chairmen from all sections of the city, 
being careful to represent each section well. Pains 
must be taken also to represent each denomination 
fairly in this union missionary committee ; and some- 
times the union in a large city will form denomina- 
tional union committees, each made up of the local 
missionary chairmen of the societies of one denomina- 
tion. The chairmen of these various denominational 
committees, with possibly a few others, are then 
brought together as the union missionary committee. 

The head of the union missionary committee will be 
called its chairman, or he may be designated as the 
missionary superintendent of the union. He (or, of 

111 



112 UNION WOEK 

course, it may be a young woman) must be first of all 
a missionary enthusiast ; and second, he must be a good 
executive, able to conceive plans and get others to 
help him carry them out. Particularly he must realize 
that he has not succeeded till he has communicated his 
own missionary zeal to all the societies of the union. 
This is a great work, and he will look upon the chance 
to do it as a blessed opportunity. 

Missionary Committee Conferences. — Perhaps the 
first work of a union missionary committee should be 
to hold a conference of all the chairmen of the society 
missionary committees. If the union is small and the 
chairmen of these committees are members of the union 
missionary committee, then hold a conference of all the 
members of the local missionary committees. 

The chairman of the union missionary committee 
will preside at this conference and will lead the dis- 
cussions. Have a definite plan for the conference. 
There is nothing better than a series of questions on 
topics such as " How can we interest the Endeavorers 
in missionary books ? How can we promote mission- 
ary giving ? How can we better the missionary meet- 
ings? Plans for missionary socials. Setting the 
Endeavorers to praying for missions. Getting into 
touch with the denominational missionary boards." 

The list of topics will be printed clearly on a black- 
board or a large sheet of paper, or duplicated so that 
every one present can have a copy. Well-informed 
Endeavorers may be invited beforehand to open the 
discussion of the different topics, but only with a 
minute of informal talk, not with set speeches. Fill 
the evening with brisk question and answer, the giving 
and receiving of experiences and suggestions. 



UNION WOEK FOE MISSIONS 113 

This conference should be held very early in the 
society year, before any missionary meetings have been 
held in the societies ; and therefore an important 
feature of the evening may well be the discussion of 
plans for the coming missionary meetings. Appoint 
one person for each of these meetings, whose duty it 
will be to come with a budget of plans for that meet- 
ing. These plans will be presented to the conference 
and discussed, and others will add to them. Possibly 
another conference may be held for these special plans, 
and only the leaders of the year's missionary meetings 
invited — a conference of missionary prayer-meeting 
leaders. 

Generally one missionary committee conference of 
this sort will be enough for the year ; but it should be 
held early, so as to start the work in the societies with 
enthusiasm and with full information. 

A Missionary Speakers' Bureau. — A large union 
may organize a speakers' bureau especially for mission- 
ary speakers, to be furnished to churches and Christian 
Endeavor societies in need of such assistance. This 
bureau will consist of one or more persons who are in 
close touch with the mission boards and who are likely 
to know when good speakers on missionary themes are 
in town or are readily obtainable. If a returned mis- 
sionary is in the vicinity, or if some one has just come 
back from a journey in missionary lands, or if some 
missionary-board secretary is passing through the town, 
the speakers' bureau will arrange to have as many so- 
cieties as possible enjoy the opportunity for fresh, first- 
hand missionary information and inspiration. Contact 
with a live missionary is one of the most valuable ex- 
periences that can come to a Christian Endeavor soci- 



114 UNION WOKK 

ety, so that the work of this speakers' bureau is very 
important. If it is not established as a separate insti- 
tution in your union, at least its work should be done 
by the union missionary committee. 

A Missionary Information Bureau. — Some unions 
have extended the speakers' bureau into a general in- 
formation bureau on the subject of missions. The 
Endeavorers constituting this bureau will be well in- 
formed regarding missionary literature. They will be 
able to give inquirers just the help they need in work- 
ing up talks on any missionary subject. They will 
know about the different mission boards and their pub- 
lications. They will be posted regarding all kinds of 
helps for the study of missions. If they do not know 
a fact themselves they will know where to find it, 
which is almost as well. The bureau will be readily 
reached by telephone, and its members will be there 
one evening a week ready to talk to inquirers. 

A Union Missionary Library.— The missionary infor- 
mation bureau, or, lacking this organization, the union 
missionary committee itself, may well gather a union 
missionary library which will be at the disposal of all 
the societies for the preparation of their missionary 
meetings and for missionary socials or other missionary 
entertainments. The library will be bought by union 
funds, and will be enlarged by gifts from the societies 
and from interested individuals. It will contain as 
many missionary books as possible, especially mission- 
ary biographies, accounts of missionary lands, and a 
full set of the mission-study text-books. The library 
will be rich in a well-arranged collection of the many 
valuable pamphlets and leaflets published by the vari- 



UNION WORK FOR MISSIONS 115 

ous boards, and in missionary scrapbooks or envelopes, 
full of classified clippings on missions. 

A Union Missionary Exhibit. — This same missionary 
information bureau may add to its duties the gathering 
of a missionary exhibit, or such an exhibit may be 
brought together by the union missionary committee. 
It will be found very useful for the illustration of all 
kinds of missionary gatherings, and may well be util- 
ized in the Sunday schools as well as the Christian En- 
deavor societies. The exhibit will come to contain, by 
gift and purchase, a great variety of objects illustrat- 
ing life in missionary lands ; especially native costumes, 
so useful in missionary exercises. Maps of mission 
fields will be added, and a valuable collection of stere- 
opticon slides bearing on missions, with a union magic 
lantern for lending wherever it will be of use. Such 
an exhibit will be drawn upon constantly, and, if pre- 
sided over by a wide-awake curator, will be a most 
helpful factor in the union activities. 

Circulating Missionary Meetings. — It will be the 
business of the union missionary committee to know 
when especially bright and original missionary meet- 
ings are given in the various societies, or especially in- 
teresting features are presented in any missionary 
meeting. These may then be repeated in other soci- 
eties as the missionary committee of the union may 
arrange ; and every repetition will serve to promote 
fresh missionary zeal and ingenuity in the visited so- 
ciety, while at the same time the society thus " en- 
cored " will feel it an honor and will be moved to new 
exertions. In the same way particularly successful 
leaders of missionary meetings may be " passed on " 
around the union. 



116 UNION WOEK 

Union Missionary Meetings. — Such features as the 
foregoing will also be used to brighten the union mis- 
sionary mass meetings which will be held from time to 
time with general audiences. The cause of missions is 
so important that it may well occupy one union mass 
meeting every year. Inspiring speakers, stirring cho- 
ruses, bright and pointed talks by representatives of the 
different societies, fervent prayers, graphic illustrations 
— all will serve to render this meeting the most popular 
the union conducts. 

The union missionary mass meeting is held at a time 
that will not interfere with the regular church services. 
The societies unite in paying for the speaker, unless the 
expenses can be borne by the union treasury. Give an 
opportunity for questions from the floor after the 
speaker is through. If you cannot obtain a speaker 
of undoubted interest, you can make up a delightful 
programme from the best features presented in the 
society missionary meetings of recent months. The 
meeting is likely to be successful in proportion as it is 
well advertised in the societies, in the church pulpits, and 
in the church and secular papers, as well as by posters. 

Union Decision Meetings.— One of the great pur- 
poses of Christian Endeavor is to raise up a host of 
recruits for the ministry and for missionary service. 
One of the union mass meetings occasionally may well 
be devoted to this aim. Get a speaker who can pre- 
sent powerfully the needs and opportunities of mission 
fields, and can appeal convincingly to the conscience 
for decisions for the missionary life. Do not call for 
open announcements of decision, but in a period of 
silence call upon all to consider prayerfully their own 
responsibilities in this connection. Urge those that 



UNION WORK FOR MISSIONS 117 

feel impelled to dedicate themselves to definite and 
life-long missionary work to consult their pastors, and 
take steps to learn how many in the union have made 
this great decision. Every union may well form a 
Volunteer Band of prospective missionaries. 

Neighborhood Missionary Meetings. — The interde- 
nominational fellowship of Christian Endeavor may 
show itself occasionally in neighborhood missionary 
meetings, the societies of several near-by churches of 
different denominations getting together for a joint 
meeting in which each society will tell something 
about the most interesting missionary work of its own 
denomination. Thus the horizons of the societies will 
be widened and their interest in missions deepened. 
Such neighborhood meetings are easily prepared, since 
each society will contribute some of the most successful 
features of the missionary meetings it has already held. 

Union Missionary Socials. — Socials give a fine op- 
portunity for the dissemination of missionary informa- 
tion and the cultivation of missionary interest. A 
union missionary social will give the idea of such 
socials to many societies, and one may be held by the 
union missionary committee once a year, either in 
connection with a union meeting or independently. 
Different societies through their missionary committees 
may be made responsible for different features of the 
social, as for supplying booths representing foreign 
countries, giving bright exercises, furnishing mission 
songs, arranging a display of curios, or leading in some 
native game. The social may be based upon some 
mission land such as China or India, and of course you 
will choose some country that is most in the popular eye. 



118 UNION WOEK 

United Prayers for Missions. — A very impressive 
union missionary meeting may be arranged at some 
time of severe missionary crisis, as when there are 
massacres on some mission field, or the natives are 
suffering under famine, flood, or pestilence, or when 
some great war is in progress. Then the societies may 
be called together to think of their distressed brothers 
and sisters, and especially to pray for them. Some 
earnest speakers may be heard, but most of the time 
should be spent in faithful prayer by the Endeavorers. 
It would be very appropriate to hold such a meeting at a 
time when missionary contributions have fallen off and 
the boards are in great straits for sorely needed money. 

Missionary Reading Contests. — The union missionary 
committee may greatly stimulate missionary reading 
in the societies by offering some reward to all those 
that will do a certain amount of missionary reading of 
a quality to be fixed by the committee ; or the reward 
may be offered to the Endeavorer who reads the largest 
number of missionary books within a certain time, 
regard being had also to the value of the books read. 
The committee will offer to lend interesting books and 
missionary magazines, and will send to each society a 
list of the best missionary books available in the public 
library and the various Sunday-school libraries. A 
model list of books may be furnished to the Endeavor- 
ers entering the contest. The reward may be copies 
of missionary books. They should be presented at a 
public meeting of the union, when special emphasis will 
be laid upon missionary reading. 

A Union Missionary Entertainment. — Christian En- 
deavor unions have special facilities for presenting 



UXION WORK FOR MISSIONS 119 

missionary entertainments — cantatas, pageants, and 
similar performances which popularize missions. Dif- 
ferent parts will be assigned to the various societies so 
as to interest as many as possible in the entertainment. 
Each society will be expected to sell a certain number 
of tickets, and the proceeds may be used for the mis- 
sionary work of the union. 

Christian Endeavor on Mission Fields. — Among the 
missionary interests of every Christian Endeavor union 
some place should certainly be found for the missionary 
w T ork of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, 
which makes so many grants to mission fields at home 
and abroad for the support and increase of Christian 
Endeavor work there. Missionaries of all denomina- 
tions testify that our society is of the greatest help to 
them, especially in the training of the converts. The 
grants of money made by the United Society for the 
spread of Christian Endeavor in the parts of the world 
that are not as yet able to maintain their own national 
Christian Endeavor organizations are of prime advan- 
tage to the missionaries of all denominations, and con- 
tributions for this object may appropriately come from 
all our Christian Endeavor unions. A missionary 
pageant or other entertainment will serve to raise the 
money. Some large unions interest themselves in the 
support of Christian Endeavor in special mission coun- 
tries, and even pay the salaries of the Christian En- 
deavor travelling secretaries there. If more unions 
would do this a heavy burden would be lifted from the 
officers of the United Society. 

The Union Promoting Missionary Giving. — The mis- 
sionary fundamentals are money, men, and prayers, as 



120 UNION WOEK 

is often said. Our unions have a work to do in con- 
nection with all three, and not the least in regard to 
giving, since as young people are taught to give out of 
their small incomes so will they give when their incomes 
rise into thousands of dollars. 

Every union may well have a Tenth Legion super- 
intendent, whose sole business for the union is to pro- 
mote membership in this important branch of Christian 
Endeavor. If there is such an officer he should be a 
member ex officio of the union missionary committee. 
If there is no such officer, some member of the com- 
mittee will be detailed for the work. 

Urge the appointment of Tenth Legion committees 
in the societies, or at least of special committees for the 
promotion of giving. Urge the societies to increase 
the number of members of the Tenth Legion among 
them, and to that end choose some appropriate topic 
from the uniform list and ask that the societies remem- 
ber the Tenth Legion on that evening, having its mem- 
bers explain it and make an earnest effort to get more 
tithe-payers, using the " ballots " which the United 
Society sells for the purpose of promoting decisions. 
Keep a record of the number of Tenth Legioners in 
the union, and report how it stands from time to time. 
A banner may be offered to the society containing the 
largest proportionate number of tithe-payers. That 
the missionary committee may have a basis for its 
financial appeals, arrange with the union secretary to 
collect with his other information full statistics about 
the missionary gifts of each society — the amounts, and 
the causes to which each has contributed. 

Uniting to Support Missionaries.— Of course it is not 
feasible for an interdenominational union to support a 



UNION WOEK FOE MISSIONS 121 

denominational missionary, but the societies of one 
denomination in the union may be brought together 
and encouraged to assume under the direction of their 
mission board the entire or partial support of some 
missionary or native worker at home or abroad. These 
denominational groups within the union may vie with 
one another in this glorious work, each striving for 
the greatest zeal and efficiency. 

Union Mission-Study Classes.— One of the most 
useful things a union missionary committee can do is to 
organize a union mission-study class for the training of 
leaders for society mission-study classes. At least one 
such class should be formed every year, preferably two, 
one in home missions and one in foreign missions. 

Active advertising and personal work will bring to- 
gether from the societies the possible leaders of local 
mission-study classes. The teacher will be the best 
you can find — zealous for missions and able to impart 
his zeal to others ; well informed regarding the subject 
he is to teach, and skillful not only in the art of teach- 
ing but in the yet more difficult art of training teachers. 

One of the many admirable mission-study text-books 
will be used, and you will naturally choose the one for 
the current year, or one bearing on some country or 
field particularly interesting at the time. The eight 
lessons will be taken in eight weeks, or, perhaps better, 
in four. You will take ample time for each recitation 
— two hours is not too long. You will not neglect the 
important questions and answers. You will make full 
use of maps and other illustrative devices. You will 
seek to give the members of the class an adequate 
equipment for teaching the same book in their own 
societies. 



122 UNION WOEK 

Call for frequent talks from the members of the 
class. Let each take his turn as often as possible in 
teaching the class some section of the chapter under 
discussion. Close the study with strict examinations. 
Above all, follow up the work and see that in every 
society represented in the class, if possible, a mission- 
study class is taught by some member of the class 
within the next few weeks. No better way of diffus- 
ing missionary zest and information has ever been 
found than this, and no agency for the work is better 
than our Christian Endeavor unions. 

Helping City Missions. — Numbers of city rescue 
missions make use of the Christian Endeavor societies 
to help them in their work. The young people go 
often to the meetings of the mission, sing and testify 
and make as strong an appeal with their fresh, strong, 
and innocent faces as with their pointed arguments 
and earnest entreaties. The good the Endeavorers get 
from this contact with actual soul-saving w T ork far 
more than balances the good they may give. Such a 
service may well be organized by the union missionary 
committee for all rescue missions that desire it. The 
societies thus interested in the mission will want to 
aid in its support and will interest their churches in 
the work. 

Where there is no rescue mission the Christian En- 
deavor union, under the direction of the pastors, may 
start a mission and maintain it, hiring a superintendent 
and aiding him in every way. This is a glorious work 
which will do more to make a union strong and effi- 
cient than perhaps any other work it could undertake. 
It includes the maintaining of recreation rooms for 
men and women, girls and boys. It includes Sunday- 



UNION WORK FOR MISSIONS 123 

school work for the children. It includes helpful visit- 
ing among the poor. It includes outdoor playgrounds 
for the poor children. It includes classes in useful oc- 
cupations. It includes much civic reform work that 
will be found to be necessary. Indeed, there is no end 
to the blessed outgrowths of such an undertaking. 

County, District, and State Missionary Superin- 
tendents.— Much of the foregoing applies without 
change to the missionary superintendents in county 
and State unions and to the meetings and other opera- 
tions of those unions. The State missionary superin- 
tendent, however, is to work directly with the mission- 
ary committees of city, county, and district unions, and 
not with the individual societies except as these are not 
connected with unions. The State missionary superin- 
tendent will find that his first duty is to establish as 
many missionary committees as possible in the unions 
that have not yet appointed them and start these com- 
mittees in their duties. 

The State missionary superintendent will gather up 
from all sources the fullest possible statistics of the 
Christian Endeavor missionary work of the State. He 
will note the best missionary work done in the different 
unions and will send accounts of it to the other unions, 
acting as a clearing house of good methods. He will 
learn of good missionary speakers visiting the State, 
and will arrange for as many unions as possible to hear 
them before they leave the State. He may plan and 
carry out a missionary rally at the State convention, 
and a conference of the missionary workers present 
from all over the State. He will gather a State mis- 
sionary exhibit, getting material from the boards and 
from the local societies. He will send bulletins of good 



124 UNION WOEK 

missionary ideas to the union missionary committees. 
In short, he will do for the various union missionary 
committees about what those committees do for the 
societies under their care. 



Class Work on Chapter XI 

The Leader* 8 Questions 

How is the union missionary committee made up ? 

How will the committee conduct missionary con- 
ferences ? 

How will it manage a speakers' bureau ? 

How will it carry on an information bureau ? 

What will the union missionary library be and do ? 

What will be the contents and the work of a union 
missionary exhibit ? 

Describe circulating missionary meetings. 

How will the union missionary meetings be conducted ? 

Describe union decision meetings. 

What will neighborhood missionary meetings accom- 
plish ? 

How will union missionary socials be carried on ? 

What is the value of united prayer for missions ? 

What contests may the committee conduct? 

How may the committee conduct missionary entertain- 
ments ? 

What is the relation of the union to Christian Endeavor 
on mission fields ? 

How may the union promote missionary giving ? 

How may the union support missionaries ? 

How manage a union mission -study class ? 

How can the union aid city missions ? 



UNION WORK FOR MISSIONS 125 

What is the work of missionary superintendents in the 
larger unions ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Christian Endeavor for the World. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should start some missionary 
enterprise of its own. 



CHAPTEK XII 

UNION WOEK FOR SOUL-SAVING 

Why Union Evangelistic Work? — Every Christian 
Endeavor society worthy of the name will be an 
evangelistic agency, because evangelism is the Chris- 
tian endeavor that is nearest to the heart of Christ. 
But the evangelistic impulse is generally given to a 
society from without, if it comes at all, and it should 
be given by the Christian Endeavor union. Moreover, 
it is far easier for each society to do evangelistic work 
if all the other societies are doing it at the same time. 
The evangelistic spirit is contagious. More than that, 
wise evangelism requires training, and the leaders in 
this work in all the societies can be trained by union 
effort. Still further, there are large evangelistic opera- 
tions that are too great for any one society, but can 
be conducted by the joint effort of all the societies in a 
union. For these reasons every Christian Endeavor 
union should place evangelism among its aims and 
among its definite operations. 

The Evangelistic Committee. — The committee of 
the union placed in charge of evangelism will have for 
its chairman a very wise young man, a devout Chris- 
tian, a person of great common sense, loved and re- 
spected by all. He must not be a faddist. He will 
have the confidence and esteem of the pastors, and 
will be able to obtain their co-operation. His associates 
upon the committee will be Endeavorers of his own 

126 



UNION WOEK FOE SOUL-SAVING 127 

stamp, and will represent every section of the city, 
possibly every society in the union. Each society 
representative may be the chairman of the evangelistic 
committee in his own society, and thus the plans of the 
central committee will be carried out in each society. 

A Class in Personal Evangelism. — The United So- 
ciety's text-book in evangelism, " 2 Tim. 2 : 15," by 
Kev. H. W. Pope, is finely fitted for use in a union 
class in personal evangelism. Every member of the 
union evangelistic committee will join the class, of 
course, and every member of the society evangelistic 
committees, together with all other Endeavorers that 
can be persuaded to come. The leader will be some 
one of experience in soul-Avinning, so that he can 
illustrate out of his own experience the many practical 
points of the text-book. He must be some one ap- 
proved by the pastoral counsellor of the union. 

Take a chapter an evening, and have the members 
of the class read it at home, think it over, and come 
prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. The leader of the 
class will have many pointed questions to be answered, 
and will give ample opportunity for the asking of ques- 
tions by the Endeavorers. The great purpose of this 
class is to train leaders in this work, who will go out 
into their own societies to lead just such classes, and 
thus to stimulate the Endeavorers to undertake per- 
sonal evangelistic work for themselves. 

Personal Workers' Bands. — One great task of the 
union evangelistic committee is to form personal work- 
ers' bands in the societies. These bands are made up 
of the Endeavorers, however many or few, who will 
agree to make an earnest and continuous effort for the 



128 UNION WORK 

salvation of at least one soul, and to meet regularly 
with the others of the band to pray for this work and 
consult one another about it, each reporting his ov T n 
experiences (probably without naming the person or 
persons for whom he is working). If a member of the 
personal workers' band fails, or seems to fail, in his at- 
tempt to win some soul for Christ, he will get the help 
of some one else of the band, and then if necessary of 
another. What one cannot do because of personal 
limitations another may do with the greatest ease. 

These personal workers' bands may meet once a fort- 
night, and their organization will continue for years 
if the Endeavorers are faithful. You will invite to 
join the band only those who you are sure are deeply 
interested in this work and will be faithful in it. You 
will add to the band from time to time, as you discover 
others of the evangelistic temper. ]STo one is to join 
the band merely to interest him in evangelistic work, 
but he will be interested by other means. 

And it is very necessary that the work of the band 
shall be secret. It will make no report. Its mem- 
bership will not be known. Even its existence will be 
kept secret, as far as is feasible without introducing 
the element of mystery. You will fail with the 
friends you are trying to bring to Christ if they feel 
that they are the subjects of organized effort and not 
of personal interest. 

An Evangelistic-Committee Conference. — When the 
union evangelistic committee has got these society 
evangelistic committees to working, it will be in order 
to hold a conference for instructing their members and 
stimulating them to better service. An evangelistic 
pastor may well give the opening talk, relating some 



UNION WOEK FOR SOUL-SAVING 129 

of his own experiences in personal evangelism and 
afterwards joining in the discussion. It will be well 
for the leader of the conference to have a set of sug- 
gestive topics or questions to start the discussion ; but 
if the societies have been doing active work for soul- 
winning, they will have enough questions to fill up 
many hours. 

Outdoor Evangelism. — The Christian Endeavor type 
of prayer meeting gives splendid training for effective 
outdoor evangelistic meetings. The Endeavorers can 
get permission for such a meeting, if permission is 
needed. They can draw the crowd with singing some 
bright songs. They can bring in cornets, fifes, drums, 
and other instruments, including a baby organ. They 
can have many brief prayers and short ringing testi- 
monies, such as they give in their Christian Endeavor 
prayer meetings. The leader can close with an earnest 
appeal for the Christian life. Such meetings as these, 
persisted in week after week, cannot fail to do a vast 
amount of good. They will win attention by their 
modesty, simplicity, and earnestness. Men will listen 
to young folks when they might not listen to other men. 

Shop Meetings. — Meetings may be arranged for 
shops during the noon hour, when the workers, having 
finished their lunches, are ready for any diversion. 
The meetings will be of the same nature as the out- 
door meetings, but will be of a more familiar character 
because of the quiet of the shop compared with the 
street-corner. You will have a chance here to make 
acquaintances, if you come week after week, and you 
can meet and talk with those that wish to know more 
about the Christian life. 



130 UNION WOEK 

Tent Meetings. — Christian Endeavorers have been 
very successful in tent work, and are the back-bone of 
most of those enterprises. The work is usually done 
during the summer, and sometimes the tent is peripa- 
tetic through the rural districts, though usually it is 
stationary in the heart of a city. Most frequently an 
evangelist is employed, the Endeavorers being his 
faithful assistants. They furnish the singing, they 
hand out invitations on the streets, they act as ushers, 
they give brief testimonies and offer brief prayers, they 
visit from house to house, inviting people to the meet- 
ings, and in many other ways they aid the evangelist. 
If no evangelist is employed, nevertheless the union 
might well conduct a series of tent meetings with only 
Endeavorers to speak. 

In Rescue Missions. — Those glorious institutions, the 
city rescue missions, are always glad of the help of 
Christian Endeavorers. The union takes charge of 
the matter, and assigns now one society and now an- 
other to send a delegation. This delegation sings 
heartily, sometimes furnishing special music, and its 
members give brief, earnest testimonies — both singing 
and testimonies being strictly under the direction of 
the superintendent of the mission. The Endeavorers 
will also be helpful in obtaining for the mission open- 
ings in the churches for the presentation of its cause 
and for the gifts of the church members. All churches 
should have a share in rescue-mission work, and the 
Christian Endeavorers that take a personal part in the 
work will get from it far more than they can give. 

Evangelism in the Societies. — The ordinary work of 
a Christian Endeavor society calls for much real 
evangelism, especially in the operations of the lookout 



UNION WORK FOE SOUL-SAVING 131 

committee. Every time a candidate comes before the 
society for associate or active membership, the ques- 
tions of allegiance to Christ, confession of Christ before 
others, and the joining of the church will be sure to 
come up. As the Endeavorers deal faithfully with 
these matters, they will have many a chance to plant 
the seeds of truth in receptive minds. They can turn 
many from associate membership into active member- 
ship and into the church. Young people seldom realize 
their power over other young people, but are too 
cowardly about speaking for Christ. The union evan- 
gelistic committee can do much to promote evangelistic 
action in the lookout committees of the societies, and 
through them among the other Endeavorers. 



Class Work on Chapter XII 

The Leaders Questions 
Why shall we do union evangelistic work ? 
Of whom should the union evangelistic committee 

consist ? 
How carry on a class in personal evangelism ? 
How conduct personal workers' bands ? 
How conduct an evangelistic conference ? 
What outdoor evangelism should the union carry on ? 
How conduct shop meetings ? tent meetings ? 
How can the union aid rescue missions ? 
How can we promote evangelism in the societies ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Saved — to Save. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that young people can best be won to Christ 
by other young people. 



CHAPTER XIII 
UNION BIBLE STUDY 

Why Union Bible Study ? — There are many reasons 
why our Christian Endeavor unions should conduct 
Bible -study classes perhaps as often as once a year. 
In the first place, there is the argument of experience, 
since many unions have done this work, to the great 
profit of their members and to the advantage of the 
churches. We have never heard of an unfavorable 
criticism or of dissatisfaction with the results. 

In the second place, it is probably not too much to 
say that most of the Sunday-school teachers in our 
Christian Endeavor churches come out of the Christian 
Endeavor societies. For their own honor, therefore, 
as well as for the sake of the work at large, the so- 
cieties should see that the workers they send into the 
Sunday school are as well trained as possible. Of 
course if the Sunday schools of any locality are carry- 
ing on an adequate teacher-training course, the En- 
deavorers will not duplicate it ; but the Sunday schools 
seldom do this, or if they do it, they seldom continue 
year after year. Teachers' meetings in the Sunday 
schools are few, and in most instances the Christian 
Endeavor union can undertake the union Bible-study 
class in the confidence that it is doing a unique and 
greatly-needed work that will not be undertaken by 
any other organization. 

Another reason for the union Bible-study class arises 
from the difficulty of obtaining well-equipped and in- 

132 



UNION BIBLE STUDY 133 

spiring teachers for such classes. When you find one, 
you will be wise to make the most of him and give 
him the largest audience possible. 

Moreover, there is great value in numbers. Bring 
together in one class scores of Bible-lovers from many 
societies and denominations, and it is like gathering 
live coals in a heap ; a big fire is sure to result. New 
thoughts are flashed from mind to mind, and the 
contagion of Bible zeal rapidly spreads. 

And finally, not to mention other reasons that may 
be given, we must remember that the very promises 
of our pledge, calling upon us to pray and read the 
Bible daily, constitute ours a Bible society. Many 
thousands of us also have taken the special pledge of 
the Quiet Hour. It behooves us to vitalize the pledge 
by learning all that we can about the Bible, getting 
the broadest views of it and discovering how to obtain 
from its sacred pages all the wisdom and power stored 
up there for us. These union Bible-study classes will 
greatly enrich the private devotions of our members 
and will widen out into all our Christian Endeavor 
prayer meetings. 

Pastoral Advice and Oversight. — The only danger 
attending this work is that some teacher may be 
chosen that will not be approved by the pastors of the 
churches involved. Yery properly the pastors would 
rather there should be no union Bible-study class than 
one taught by a man who would use the opportunity 
for the inculcation of theories about the Bible which 
are simply masked infidelity, or a man of no imagina- 
tion or adequate scholarship whose stock in trade is 
bald literalism, or a man who would devote most of 
his time to teaching some religious fad. It is of prime 



134 UNION WOEK 

importance that the teacher should be a reverent, force- 
ful, clear-headed Bible scholar, who will command the 
respect of all the pastors and the affection of all the 
young people. The pastors can probably guide in the 
discovery of such a man. If the Endeavorers have a 
man in view, they should obtain the hearty assent of 
their pastors before engaging him or even approaching 
him in the matter. 

If your union has, as all unions should have, a pas- 
toral counsellor appointed by the pastors themselves to 
serve as their representative in the union counsels, 
then his advice and consent will be all you need. If 
you have no such officer, you will need to go to the 
ministers' association ; or, if there is no such body, then 
to the individual pastors. You may grudge the time 
and pains necessary for this, but time and pains are 
necessary in starting any undertaking. Remember 
that every such instance of respect shown to your 
pastors will strengthen their regard for the union and 
their confidence in Christian Endeavor. 

After the teacher of the class is chosen, still continue 
to make full use of the pastors. Give them a cordial 
invitation to all sessions of the class. Always have 
one of them present (a different one each time), on 
special invitation, to open the class session with prayer. 
Ask them to announce each meeting of the class from 
the pulpit and in the church prayer meeting as well as 
in the church calendars. Do everything you can to 
make them feel that this is their work, in which the 
young people look to them for guidance and for gen- 
uine leadership. 

Who Should Teach the Class?— You will seek, to 
teach the union class, some one with a youthful heart, 



UNION BIBLE STUDY 135 

with a deep love for the Bible, with sufficient Bible 
scholarship, and with the teacher's skill. Avoid abso- 
lutely the teacher who will be destructive rather than 
constructive. Avoid the talkative teacher, who will 
lecture rather than question and seek to parade his 
own wisdom rather than make his pupils wise. Avoid 
the conceited man, the opinionated man, the trifling 
man. You will probably not be able to find the ideal 
Bible teacher, for he is not often found ; get the best 
approximation you can discover, and remember that 
other years are coming in which you may find in your 
Bible teachers the qualities lacking in this year's 
teacher, though he in turn will have some good qual- 
ities which they will lack. 

The Cost of the Course.— You may be able to ob- 
tain the very best teacher without a cent of cost, but 
it ma}'- be necessary to get some one from a distance at 
considerable cost, if only for his travelling expenses 
and entertainment. If the latter is the case, then, 
before you enter into an agreement with your teacher, 
make sure that you can pay him. 

Announce the proposed class in a circular to the so- 
cieties or by personal visits to the different societies. 
State what the expenses will be, and call for subscrip- 
tions or memberships in the class. Each person joining 
the class will pay a certain sum for the privilege, per- 
haps fifty cents. Non-transferable tickets will be 
issued, admitting each member to the class. It will 
be clearly understood that this admission fee is in ad- 
dition to the cost of whatever book is used in the 
class. 

Some unions will be strong enough financially to 
engage the teacher and pay him out of the union treas- 



136 UNION WOEK 

ury. This will sometimes be the best course; but, 
generally speaking, the Endeavorers will value more 
what they have each paid to obtain, and will be more 
faithful in their attendance if each has purchased a 
ticket of admission. 

The Length of the Course.— It is far better to have 
a short course of perhaps eight lessons than a longer 
course which may drag at the end. Attempt no more 
than you can carry through with a triumphant swing. 
And eight lessons, occupying four weeks, two lessons 
a week, are better than eight lessons occupying eight 
weeks. Of course in this matter you must be gov- 
erned largely by the convenience and experience of 
the teacher of the class. 

The Subject of the Course.— Here you will be guided 
by the teacher you have obtained, who may offer you 
your choice of several courses which he is reacty to 
give. If you are able to select your own course, we 
advise you to avoid an ambitious subject covering 
much ground and choose a rather more restricted 
theme which can be pursued with a fair degree of 
thoroughness, so that the Endeavorers will feel the 
satisfaction of having carried the subject to completion. 

Your subject may be one book of the Bible. It may 
be some phase of Bible literature, such as the parables. 
You may take a rapid survey of the prophets. You 
may study the orations of the Bible. You may take 
a fascinating course in Bible geography. You may 
study some of the contrasted characters of the Bible. 
You may get an outline view of Bible history, or of 
the life of Christ or of Paul. You may choose some 
subject especially helpful in connection with the cur- 






UNION BIBLE STUDY 137 

rent Sunday-school lessons. You may select a topic 
of current interest, such as the Bible teachings on war 
and peace. 

Books for the Class. — Whatever the subject, each 
member of the class will be required to bring a copy 
of the Bible, and it will be well to insist upon the 
Revised Version, either the English or the American 
Revision. 

In addition, each member of the class must purchase 
a copy of any text-book used. If a book of the Bible 
is chosen, the text-book will be some brief commentary 
upon that book. The teacher will choose the text- 
book and the union will probably be able to get a dis- 
count from the booksellers or publishers. 

Then each pupil will be expected to have a note-book 
and to take full notes of all the teacher gives the class 
and of the class discussions. These notes should always 
be reviewed before the next lesson. 

Conducting the Class. — Every teacher will have his 
own methods, but for a successful class certain elements 
of teaching are essential. At each lesson some home 
work should be assigned to be done in preparation for 
the next lesson — some Bible reading and some bits of 
research and original thinking. In the class a large 
use should be made of questions to provoke discussion 
and prompt to thought. Now and then the brighter 
pupils will be asked to prepare brief essays on themes 
connected with the study, and read them to the class. 
The map will be used wherever it would add to the 
interest and understanding. All analyses should be 
written clearly upon the blackboard and copied care- 
fully. Some teachers make too much of analyses, which 



138 UNION WOEK 

renders their instruction dry and forbidding. Others 
make too little of such written helps, thus rendering 
their instruction vague and leaving little in the memory. 
There is a wise mean between the two extremes. 

Above all, the teacher should not give so much that 
he really gives nothing at all. Crowding the lesson 
with thoughts and facts, tersely presented, merely 
serves to discourage all but the keenest minds. The 
teacher must remember that few, if any, in his audience 
are familiar with the subject, and that a little w T ell 
presented and really carried away is far better than a 
large amount of thought and learning poured out upon 
his pupils only to roll off unreceived. 

Concluding the Course. — After the final lesson of the 
course, the class may meet some evening for a fellow- 
ship gathering to express their appreciation of their 
teacher. You may have light refreshments, and the 
evening may be enlivened with music and song. A 
few appropriate talks may be given, carefully prepared 
beforehand and bearing on Bible study in general, or 
the course you have just followed in particular. A 
little organization may be formed for the purpose of 
maintaining the class and adding to its numbers when 
next you meet in the succeeding year. 

At the next union meeting held after the close of 
the course the work of the class will be reported to the 
union by one of the members, and you may well spend 
fifteen minutes also in hearing brief testimonies regard- 
ing it from all that will give them. 



UNION BIBLE STUDY 139 



Class Work on Chapter XIII 

The Leader's Questions 
Why should our unions engage in Bible study ? 
Why should this Bible study have the advice and over- 
sight of the pastors ? 
What kind of teacher should be found for the class ? 
How will the cost of the course be met ? 
How long should the course be ? 
What subjects may be used ? 
What books will be needed ? 
How will the class be conducted ? 
How will the course be concluded ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Partnership in Bible Study. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that union Bible study is needed to supple- 
ment the Bible study that is now carried on. 



CHAPTEE XIV 

UNION CIVIC AND TEMPEEANCE WOEK 

Why a Union Temperance and Citizenship Com- 
mittee ? — Most work for the betterment of a town or 
city requires for effectiveness the massing of forces, 
and so this kind of work is especially suited to Chris- 
tian Endeavor unions. It is begun in the local so- 
cieties, but they must combine for any large result. 

When there is talk about appointing this committee, 
some will be sure to object against u mixing religion 
and politics." But why should not religion be mixed 
with politics ? Every one agrees that politics needs 
the purification and uplift that religion would give. Is 
any one afraid that religion will be worsted in the 
contest or fouled by the fight ? Wherever there is 
wrong to be made right, there religion should go ; and 
many wrongs are to be made right in and through 
politics. 

Of course the church and the Christian Endeavor 
societies ought not to mingle in mere struggles for 
office where personal ambition is the only motive and 
the spoils of office are the only issue ; but wherever 
moral questions are at issue and the welfare of man is 
at stake there Christians are needed, and there they 
should take their stand as Christians and band them- 
selves together as Christians to bring about the better 
condition of affairs that Christ Himself desires. 

Christians are of all parties, and are conscientious in 
their party allegiance. True Christian citizenship work 

140 



UNION CIVIC AND TEMPERANCE WORK 141 

will not disturb these party allegiances in most cases. 
It will bring together the honorable men of all parties, 
to fight for the basal principles of good government 
that should underlie all parties. There is and can be 
no partisanship in such a struggle. It is an interparty 
work, as Christian Endeavor is interdenominational and 
international and interracial. It can and should be 
entered upon in the spirit of the Reformer of Galilee. 

The Make-up of the Committee. — Work on the union 
citizenship and temperance committee calls for con- 
siderable maturity. It would be well to confine mem- 
bership to voters, and }^ou will place upon the committee 
the most experienced young men of all the societies. 
Every society should have its own citizenship and 
temperance committee, and the union committee may 
well be made up of the chairmen of these local com- 
mittees. If the union is too large for this, then take 
leading citizenship workers from the societies in dif- 
ferent sections of the city. The chairman will be some 
one well informed regarding civic and political condi- 
tions, wholly consecrated and courageous, an effective 
speaker and a practical worker for civic betterment. 
The work itself, if you once start it, will rapidly develop 
good leaders. 

Citizenship and Temperance Conferences. — Perhaps 
the first work of the union citizenship and temperance 
committee will be to get similar committees appointed 
in all the societies. Some voter should be the chair- 
man, and the rest of the committee should be made up 
of wide-awake young men and women deeply inter- 
ested in the affairs of town or city. These committees 
will plan for the enrichment of all prayer meetings 
that have civic or temperance topics, and will combine 



142 UNION WOEK 

in the union temperance and civic work. A conference 
of these committees should be held as early as possible 
to form plans for real work for civic betterment. 
Some of the suggestions given below may be laid be- 
fore this conference, or some other plan that may be 
suggested by local needs. 

Under Advice. — The civic work of the union, per- 
haps more than any other kind of work, is full of pit- 
falls for the inexperienced. It should not for this rea- 
son be neglected, but it should be undertaken with the 
advice and under the supervision of the wisest adults 
you can interest in your activities. Here is one place 
where the pastoral counsellor of the union will come 
in. Of course all plans that involve wide action and 
considerable publicity will be passed upon by the union 
executive committee, after consultation with men of 
mature judgment and especially with the pastoral 
counsellor. 

Civic Study Classes. — A very useful plan, to which 
no one can take exception, is the formation of union 
classes for the study of civic conditions and of the 
great reforms, especially the temperance reform. For 
such classes excellent text-books are available, particu- 
larly the temperance text-book published by the United 
Society of Christian Endeavor. The leader, who should 
be most carefully chosen, will be some one of conspicu- 
ously pure motives, of thorough knowledge, and of 
courageous character. He should be some one who 
will inspire the young people with a zeal for the high- 
est type of citizenship, and who will lead them along 
ways of practical civic efficiency. 

A short course of perhaps eight weeks will be enough 
each year. Take up some concrete subject of study, 



UNION CIVIC AND TEMPERANCE WORK 143 

such as the temperance reform, the public-school sys- 
tem, the prisons, or the question of public franchises. 
It is better to learn a few things thoroughly than many 
things superficially. The teacher of the class will 
bring in experts to talk to the young people and an- 
swer their questions, especially the public officials in 
charge of the matter under consideration. You will 
introduce little essays and speeches, you will have 
debates, and you will make use of many articles in 
periodicals and all other books, besides the chosen text- 
book. Try to lead up to some practical outcome, some 
immediate use of the Endeavorers' new knowledge. 
Make this union class a training-school of leaders, each 
of whom will go to work to conduct a similar class in 
his own society. 

Civic Studies. — Sometimes it will be possible to fol- 
low up a class in civics with a series of careful studies 
of different sections of a city or of different phases of 
city life. For this purpose those that are willing to 
undertake the work will be banded together under 
competent leaders. They may learn the location of 
the saloons in the city with reference to the churches, 
the schools, the residences, and the stores, and may 
draw such conclusions as they can with regard to the 
influence of the saloons on these different neighbor- 
hoods. They may study the city's drinking fountains, 
or parks, or system of caring for the poor. They may 
study the slum district in its many aspects. The main 
conclusions of these studies may be presented to the 
union in a series of addresses. 

Civic Themes in Union Meetings.— The union citi- 
zenship and temperance committee will be influential 



144 UNIOX WOEK 

in bringing important civic subjects to the attention 
of the Endeavorers through the union mass meetings. 
These subjects will be suggested by current events, 
and will have close relation to current reforms. They 
should be treated by men and women of ability and 
experience whose words will have weight with think- 
ing people and whose names will do credit to Chris- 
tian Endeavor. Avoid extremists and fanatics and 
" cranks," however eloquent and persuasive they may 
be. In presenting a subject to young people whose 
minds are not yet trained to balance arguments and 
criticise coolly, it is especially necessary to take dispas- 
sionate views and give fairly both sides of every ques- 
tion. 

Christian Endeavor Debating Clubs.— The old-fash- 
ioned debating club did much for our fathers and 
grandfathers ; it will do as much for the young people 
of to-day wherever it is introduced, and Christian En- 
deavor unions are in a position to introduce it. The 
union debating club will draw from all the societies 
their most thoughtful young people, those most deeply 
interested in public questions. It may well meet once 
a month throughout the year. Every evening may 
have a formal debate with four speakers, two on a 
side ; and also, to close the evening, the informal dis- 
cussion of the same or a different subject in which 
every member of the club may join so as to get prac- 
tice in general debating. An especially good debate 
may be repeated before the union. 

Christian Endeavor Civic Leagues.— Christian En- 
deavor Civic Leagues are organizations formed for the 
study of public questions and for concerted civic action. 



UNION CIVIC AND TEMPEKANCE WOEK 145 

The most appropriate study to begin with is that of 
the town or city government under which you are 
living. Spend an evening, for instance, with the pub- 
lic-school system. Ask some member of the school 
board or the school superintendent to come and explain 
it to you and answer your questions. On another even- 
ing study the town taxes under the lead of the town 
treasurer, or the election system, or the courts, or the 
care of the poor, or the streets, and so on. Each meet- 
ing will have for its principal speaker some one w r hose 
business or office renders him thoroughly familiar with 
the subject under discussion ; and each meeting, after 
his explanation, will close with a series of questions 
addressed to him by the Endeavorers. 

The civic action of such a league will depend upon 
the community opportunities and needs. Some pos- 
sible lines of work are indicated below. One thing you 
might do which would be full of helpfulness to young 
voters would be to learn all you can about the candi- 
dates for election upon whom they are soon to vote. 
Get some well-informed man to tell you about them, 
and at the next meeting balance his views by a similar 
talk from a man of another party. Ask questions 
about the different candidates, particularly regarding 
their attitude toward the great reforms. If you cannot 
find out in any other way, you can address polite letters 
of inquiry to the candidates themselves. This is not 
partisan political action, but is simply gathering the 
information which is gathered for the voters by the 
good-citizenship organization, if one exists, made up of 
men of all parties. The information you receive is not 
to be printed or published in any way ; it is solely for 
the private instruction of the young voters in your 
societies. 



146 UNION WOEK 

Village Improvement Societies.— If your community 
has no village improvement society or a similar organi- 
zation, the citizenship and temperance committee of the 
union may well start one. The object of such an 
organization is to unite all progressive citizens in work- 
ing for the betterment of the town. You may aim at 
better sidewalks, cleaner streets, more shade trees, the 
abolition of fences. You may put up town bulletin 
boards. You may install public receptacles for rubbish. 
You may start a movement for the beautifying of 
yards. You may go on to more ambitious projects, 
such as a larger schoolhouse or a town hall. 

Other Civic Enterprises. — If you have no public 
library, the union citizenship committee may inaugu- 
rate a movement to establish one. A recreation room 
may be connected with it. If the town has no park 
or common, such a place for public recreation should 
be provided. If the children have no good playground 
easily accessible to all, the Endeavorers will be doing a 
work most appropriate to them if they set on foot a 
movement for the forming of such a playground. 
Many towns have no public drinking fountains, and 
the Endeavorers have established them as a temperance 
measure. Sometimes these fountains are supplied with 
ice-water in the summer. 

Petitions and Pledges.— The circulation among the 
Endeavorers of a good citizen's pledge may mean much 
for civic betterment in the future. This pledge may 
read : " In obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
Supreme Ruler, I promise to strive to be the kind of 
citizen He would approve, to try to do my full civic 
duty promptly and faithfully, and especially to seek to 



UNION CIVIC AND TEMPERANCE WOEK 147 

learn the characters of all candidates for public office 
that I may vote as Christ would have me vote." 

The circulation of petitions in favor of good meas- 
ures is work for Christian Endeavorers, and thus they 
may bring to bear upon unwilling politicians an influ- 
ence that they cannot resist. The ready writers among 
the Endeavorers should be encouraged to write to 
public men brief, manly letters urging them to vote 
and work for any definite reform measure the writer 
has at heart, or praising them for any courageous 
action on behalf of the right. The papers may be used 
also for both these purposes ; and of the two, the praise 
is more likely to be effective for the right than the blame. 

Union Work for Temperance. — A very effective 
piece of temperance work is the placarding of the 
town with temperance posters. There are many of 
these now (they are for sale by the United Society), 
and they present in a very forcible way the strongest 
arguments for the temperance reform. Many of them 
are diagrams, and speak to the eye as well as to the 
mind. These posters can be placed in the shop-win- 
dows, on church bulletin boards, on the trees of private 
property near the streets, and in any other place where 
they will be read by large numbers. Each one of them 
will be a powerful temperance lecture. 

Some unions have gone farther and have set up 
temperance signboards, which are large enough to be 
seen hundreds of feet away, and which state temperance 
facts and arguments briefly and convincingly. Some- 
times these are electric signboards and preach their 
temperance sermons through the night. 

Temperance maps may be prepared showing the 
number of saloons in the place, each marked by a 



148 UNION WOEK 

black circle. The churches will be marked by gold 
circles arid the schools by blue circles. These maps 
also will be put in public places where many will see 
them and be moved by their silent appeal. 

As election approaches a temperance parade may be 
organized, the young people turning out with a brass band 
and with many pointed banners and transparencies bear- 
ing temperance mottoes and briefly-put temperance facts. 

Whenever the question of no license is up, the union 
may combine heartily with other forces in a no-license 
campaign, or may carry on one by itself if no other 
agencies are at work. Mass meetings will be held 
addressed by the best temperance speakers available, 
placards will be used everywhere, a parade will be 
held, outdoor meetings will appeal to the workers, and 
temperance tracts appropriate to the situation will be 
sent through the mails or distributed at the doors of 
the houses. Get the leading citizens to sign an appeal 
for the driving out of the saloon — the most influential 
citizens, whether they are church people or not. Make 
a face-to-face canvass for votes, and try to reach 
personally all you can. If you fail, then try again 
next time, having learned the lessons of your failure. 
If you succeed, then keep your eyes open and see that 
the law is enforced. 



Class Work on Chapter XIV 

The Leaders Questions 

Why should the union engage in civic and temperance 
work ? 

How should the union citizenship and temperance com- 
mittee be made up ? 



UNION CIVIC AND TEMPERANCE WORK 149 

What advice should be sought in this work ? 
How will union civic study classes be conducted ? 
What city study can be carried on ? 
How will the citizenship committee aid the union meet- 
ings ? 
What work can Christian Endeavor debating clubs do ? 
Describe a Christian Endeavor Civic League. 
What is the work of a village improvement society ? 
What other civic work may a union do ? 
What is a civic pledge ? 
What work may the union do for temperance ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Christian Endeavor Citizen. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that civic conditions in our community call 
for action by our Christian Endeavor union. 



CHAPTER XV 

THE UNION SOCIALS 

Why Union Social Work ? — Our Christian Endeavor 
unions do not often have social committees, probably 
because the union officers think that social work be- 
longs to the societies alone. As a matter of fact, there 
are many kinds of social activity that societies can 
carry on only in co-operation, and these constitute the 
legitimate sphere of the union social committee. The 
entire union needs to have a warm social atmosphere, 
just as much as a society. Quite often, even where 
the societies are cordial and the members know each 
other well, the union meetings are stiff and the mem- 
bers of the different societies seem afraid of one an- 
other. In such a union it is impossible to carry out 
large enterprises with any fervor. The members do 
not know one another well enough to work together. 
It is the business of the union social committee to pro- 
mote the acquaintance of societies just as the society 
social committees promote the acquaintance of members. 
This work, like all other union work, looks forward to 
the time when the young folks will be doing a similar 
work for the churches of a community and of a denom- 
ination. 

The Union Social Committee. — At the head of this 
committee will be placed some one with a gift for the 
social management of large bodies of people, and this 
gift is a rare one. It is, however, cultivated by work 

150 



THE UNION SOCIALS 151 

on the social committees, and the best social committee 
chairman developed in the societies should be placed in 
charge of the union social committee. The members 
of the committee may well be the chairmen of the so- 
cial committees of the societies, or, if the union is too 
large to have all of them on the union committee, then 
include social-committee chairmen from all sections of 
the city and from all denominations. 

Social- Committee Conferences.— Yery early in its 
term of office the union social committee should hold a 
conference of all the social committees of the union. 
The opening talk of the conference may well set before 
the Endeavorers the highest ideal of their work, that 
they are to be " social to save." Then will follow an in- 
terchange of experiences, each telling about the best so- 
cial they have conducted or describing some little fea- 
ture of a social. Questions will also be asked regarding 
the perplexities that develop in the course of the work. 
The chairman of the union committee will make sure 
in advance that three or four bright new socials will 
be described by workers from different societies ; mem- 
bers of the union social committee will probably fur- 
nish these accounts. Make the conference of practical 
value to the workers, so that they will go away eager 
to put into practice the fresh ideas they have obtained. 

Improving the Social Atmosphere. — The fundamen- 
tal purpose of the union social committee should be to 
raise the social standards of the community, if they 
need elevation. In many communities the young peo- 
ple have no social ideas above card-playing, theatre- 
going, and dancing. These fill their lives with such 
frivolity that genuine religious work among them is 
almost impossible. When this is the case, the union 



152 UNION WORK 

social committee has before it a task of great and fun- 
damental importance, and its members will need all the 
consecrated ability they possess to bring the young 
people to see the fun in better amusements. This ob- 
ject of the committee must not, of course, be pro- 
claimed from the housetops, but be held as a quiet, 
steady purpose in their minds. 

Worth- While Amusements. — The union social com- 
mittee will work through the local social committees 
wherever it can, introducing the best type of games 
and sports to take the place of those of little or no 
value ; but there is much that it can do on a large 
scale. For example, it can form a union Christian En- 
deavor chess club to arouse interest in that king of 
intellectual games. A union checker club or crokinole 
club would also turn the minds away from games of 
chance. A union tennis club is a possibility, owning 
its own courts and carrying on a fascinating series of 
tournaments in which all the societies will be interested. 
Similarly, a union baseball or football club may be 
organized, or a series of baseball or football games 
arranged between different societies. It may even be 
possible to get up a Christian Endeavor golf club with 
a club house and grounds, if you live in the country 
where land is readily available. Union bicycle clubs 
have often been formed by Endeavorers, and have com- 
bined noble religious work with their pleasure, — riding 
out to country schoolhouses and holding meetings there, 
forming new societies in outlying regions, and making 
their wheels ministers of light to a wide area. A 
union gymnasium is an easy possibility if the town has 
no gymnasium, and will prove very popular among the 
girls as well as the boys. It should be managed by 



THE UNION SOCIALS 153 

some one of experience, who believes in gymnastics for 
the development of the whole body and not merely for 
the performance of competitive feats. From this to 
nnion field days is but a step, the different societies and 
Endeavorers training for field-day sports like running, 
jumping, vaulting, throwing, swimming, and climbing. 
If this is made an annual event, each year will see an 
increase of interest in it. 

Union Excursions. — The members of the union are 
brought close together by pleasant excursions. These 
may be by boat, electric car, or steam car, and they 
will go to any beautiful and interesting spot in the 
vicinity. Some unions make these annual affairs, and 
get from them money profit as well as pleasure. An 
outdoor song service with a few brief, earnest talks and 
prayers will add much to the excursion. Union picnics 
are equally enjoyable, though they entail more labor. 
Union hikes will be popular with the boys at least, 
and with some of the girls. They should be managed 
by good walkers, and none but fairly good walkers 
should take part. They will set out for definite goals ; 
and if the goal is an interesting natural object or some 
historical building or scene, so much the better. Less 
strenuous walks, in which an} r one may take part, even 
if of little pedestrian ability, are those devoted to some 
object of natural history. Bird walks are delightful. 
For this purpose a number of bird enthusiasts will lead, 
each taking a manageable group. The object will be 
to visit the bird haunts of the neighborhood and be- 
come acquainted with as many bird forms and bird 
songs as possible. Botanical walks and geological 
walks will be similarly conducted, and if the leaders 
know their business they will be great successes. Star- 



154 UNION WOEK 

gazing evenings, in which the union members are taught 
the principal constellations and allowed to look at the 
stars and planets through a telescope or even a lot of 
field glasses, will be much enjoyed provided the leader 
knows his subject well and knows how to interest others 
in it. Microscope clubs, if formed throughout a union, 
will also lead to delightful walks. This side of union 
social life has never been developed as it might be in 
any community. It would do much to elevate the 
social standards of the young people. 

Eating Together. — Light refreshments or even full 
meals may be arranged by the union social committee 
to the great advantage of the union. Officers' suppers 
may be provided by the committee, and thus the ex- 
ecutive committee brought together soon after busi- 
ness hours for a long evening of profitable discussion 
of union affairs. At another time the social com- 
mittee may bring together for a supper all the so- 
ciety presidents in the union, a presidents' conference 
following. Committee dinners of various kinds may 
be held, the chairmen of different kinds of committees 
throughout the union being brought together under 
the joint auspices of the union social committee and 
the union, committee that will conduct the conference 
after the meal. Lawn fetes may be made very beauti- 
ful and very pleasant, and may contribute to the union 
treasury if necessary. A union supper may be an 
annual affair. Some church will throw open its kitchen 
and dining-room and the union social committee will 
co-operate with the local society. Some " get to- 
gether " game will entertain the Endeavorers as they 
arrive, and after the supper the union annual business 
meeting may be held, followed by bright little speeches 



THE UNION SOCIALS 155 

which leading workers are invited to prepare. Some- 
times, if the union is small, light refreshments may be 
served in the church vestry after the mass meeting, 
with the sure result of doubling the attendance ! 

The Social Committee in the Mass Meeting. — The so- 
cial committee has work to do in the union mass meet- 
ings, even if refreshments are not served. Sometimes 
the mass meeting may end with a social. Often it 
ends with a reception to the speaker of the evening, 
and of course the union social committee acts as master 
and mistress of ceremonies. Always the social com- 
mittee will properly have charge of the important 
matter of ushering, receiving the various societies at 
the door and showing them seats, giving them hymn- 
books, and doing all that can be done to make them 
feel at home. Some little special attention may be 
paid the delegates. A flower may be pinned upon the 
buttonhole of each, or a badge for the evening made 
of paper cut in some design appropriate to the even- 
ing's theme. If it is a patriotic rally, a tiny flag may 
be pinned upon each. Sometimes each will be given 
a slip of paper on which he will be asked to write a 
question for a question-box on Christian Endeavor 
problems, or a definition of " Christian Endeavor " or 
of "Consecration," or an answer to some question 
bearing on the evening's subject, the best of these to 
be read later in the meeting. The social committee 
that exercises its wits devising means of making the 
Endeavorers feel at home will do much toward popu- 
larizing the union meetings. 

Union Socials. — In addition to all these other pos- 
sible activities of the union social committee there are, 



156 UNION WORK 

of course, the union socials, which occupy evenings by 
themselves quite apart from the mass meetings or com- 
mittee meetings. The object of these socials is to act 
as models for the society socials, to put new ideas into 
vogue, and train social workers for the societies. They 
should be held as often as is necessary to accomplish 
these results. For instance, if you want to introduce 
the fine plan of missionary socials, have a sample one 
in the union ; or musical socials, or State socials, or 
book socials, or socials of any other type that may be 
out of the ordinary. 

Neighborhood Socials.— It is an excellent plan for 
the churches of a city neighborhood belonging to dif- 
ferent denominations to hold neighborhood Christian 
Endeavor socials. These neighborhood socials intro- 
duce the young people of different churches to one 
another and bring about a better neighborhood feeling. 
The union social committee will divide the city into 
these " neighborhoods," and will appoint the churches 
that will entertain the neighborhoods first. Denomina- 
tional socials are planned in the same way, except that 
they take in all the churches of one denomination in 
the city. The union church-work committee will plan 
them if there is one ; but if not, then the union social 
committee. 

Convention Reunions. — The delegates that went to- 
gether to a national convention, especially if it was at 
considerable distance, got well acquainted on the way 
and would enjoy reunions, at least for a few years 
after the happy event. Usually after two or three of 
these annual reunions the delegates become too scat- 
tered for a reunion. The evening is spent in eating 



THE TJXION SOCIALS 157 

supper together and then in "reminiscing" about the 
convention. Sometimes it is best to hold a u reunion 
evening " of the delegates to all recent national Chris- 
tian Endeavor Conventions. The delegates to the dif- 
ferent conventions meet socially in different rooms, 
and then come together in a central room for bright 
talks. Of course a supper may be the initial feature 
of the evening. 

Round Robins. — A pleasant feature of union work 
may be a " round robin," which is a circular letter 
started by some one and passed from one to another 
in a prescribed order, each reading all that has gone 
before and adding his own message. After the round 
robin has gone the rounds and come back to the starter, 
he takes off what he wrote at first, adds another mes- 
sage, and sends it again on its round, each person on 
receiving it taking off his first letter and adding an- 
other. So it may continue indefinitely. Workers of 
the same kind may best support such a round robin ; 
for example, all the society presidents in a union, or all 
the corresponding secretaries. The letters will be 
about the work which the writers have in common. 
The social committee of the union will set these round 
robins on foot in whatever circles the committee thinks 
will be benefited by them. 

Pageants. — Pageants are so popular, and deservedly 
so, that they may well be utilized in our Christian En- 
deavor work. A single society could hardly undertake 
one ; but a union could do it well, under the auspices 
of the union social committee. The pageant might 
represent Christian Endeavor in its interesting history 
and in all lands, or it might be based on local, State, 



158 UNION WOEK 

or national history. It should be given in the open 
air, with proper surroundings, costumes, and music. 
The Endeavorers will enjoy it, and it may be made to 
add considerable to the union treasury. 

A Recreation Room.— Most communities have no 
common recreation room such as the Y. M. C. A.'s of 
cities afford, and the Christian Endeavor union may 
easily get such a room, pay the rent, fit it up with 
games, and the members of the union take turns in 
presiding over the room, keeping order and helping the 
young folks to have a good time. The room will be 
especially for the use of boys who have no good homes 
to go to, and it may be made a genuine means of 
Christian fellowship and helpfulness. The union social 
committee is the proper division of the union forces to 
set this plan on foot and carry it out. 

Union Introduction Committees. — The union may 
have an introduction committee (see Chapter XX), or 
the social committee may undertake its functions. The 
important work of this committee is to keep in com- 
munication with other unions and with the societies 
in places that have no unions, and thus learn when 
any Endeavorer removes to the town in which the 
introduction committee works. The new-comer will 
bring a letter of introduction from his old society. 
The introduction committee, receiving this letter, or, 
without the letter, learning of the presence of the 
stranger Endeavorer, will at once put him into touch 
with a society of his denomination, introduce him to 
the Endeavorers there, see that he is made a member 
of that society, and do all they can to make him feel 
at home in the town. The union introduction com- 



THE UNION SOCIALS 159 

mittees of a State should be advertised in the State 
Christian Endeavor organ, or in the State papers, from 
time to time. Every union at least should have a list 
of the introduction committees in all other towns of 
the State. 



Class Work on Chapter XV 

The Leader's Questions 

"Why should a union do social work ? 

How should the union social committee be made up ? 

How will the committee conduct conferences? 

What will the committee do to improve the social 
atmosphere of the town ? 

How will union excursions be conducted ? 

What use will the committee make of eating together ? 

How will the social committee aid the union mass 
meetings ? 

How will union socials be conducted ? 

How are neighborhood socials carried on ? 

What are the advantages of convention reunions ? 

How are round robins managed ? 

How can the pageant idea be utilized ? 

How can a recreation room be conducted? 

What is the work of the union introduction com- 
mittee ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
" Social— to Save." 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should establish a recreation 
room. 



CHAPTER XVI 

THE UNION MUSIC 

Why Union Work for Music ? — Why should not the 
union let the church that entertains the union meeting 
furnish the music and let that answer ? Why should the 
union go into the work of providing music and arousing 
a strong musical interest among the societies ? Because 
if the union does not do it, in the majority of cases no 
other agency will do it. Few churches have any musical 
interest that extends to the young people and seeks to 
develop their musical ability for Christ. Comparatively 
few Christian Endeavor societies have music com- 
mittees ; and those that have, do little work besides 
seeing that the meetings are provided with pianists. 
And even if in some societies this fine musical interest 
existed, it would not exist in all of them, and some 
agency is needed to pass it along. And even if all the 
societies were interested in developing their musical 
powers, there would still remain much that the societies 
could do all together for good music that they could 
not do separately. There is therefore ample justifica- 
tion for a union's " going into " music and making a 
strong feature of it. 

The Union Music Committee. — While the chairman 
of the union music committee should be some one with 
a real love for music and some musical training, he 
need not be a song leader, for he can get some one to do 
that work for him. But it is essential that he be a 

160 



THE UNION MUSIC 161 

good executive, able to arouse the interest of the 
young people and hold it fixed upon music. His com- 
mittee may well consist of the chairmen of the society 
music committees, and one of the first bits of work his 
committee should do is to see that every society in the 
union has a good, strong music committee, even if 
some of the members must be taken from other com- 
mittees or work on two committees at once. It is 
well to add to the union committee as advisory member 
some good choir leader or other singer or musician who 
is interested in developing the musical interest of the 
community. The advice of such a person will be 
worth much in the choice of music and in the general 
management of your musical enterprise, even if he has 
no time to work with the union in more continued 
ways. 

A Music-Committee Conference. — To this conference 
all the members of music committees in the union will 
be invited. The leader of the conference will be the 
chairman of the union music committee. Some of the 
best workers will be prepared to make brief speeches 
when called upon to open the most important of the 
discussions. On the blackboard or on a large sheet of 
paper print a list of questions about Christian Endeavor 
music, such as : " What are the advantages of society 
choirs ? What gains come from special music in the 
meetings ? Why is it well to have music leaders in the 
societies ? How can we make fuller use of our hymn- 
books ? How can our societies help the church and 
the community with their singing ? How can we get 
our members to sing better ? How can we put the 
devotional element into our singing ? " Other ques- 
tions will be added as the local needs suggest. Dis- 



162 UNION WORK 

tribute copies of some song-book, and introduce illustra- 
tions of good songs, properly sung, throughout the 
conference as the musical director of the union suggests. 
Leave ample room under each topic for general dis- 
cussion. Send the Endeavorers away with their heads 
full of practical musical plans for carrying out in their 
societies. 

For Better Society Music. — In ways even more di- 
rect than the music-committee conference, the union 
music committee will seek to further the cause of good 
music in the societies. It may be feasible for the union 
to obtain the services of some expert song-leader who 
will go about among the societies, spending an evening 
with each. The regular prayer meeting will be given 
up on this occasion almost entirely to singing under 
this expert guidance, and many hints for musical im- 
provement will be obtained. At some other time the 
union music committee may organize a quartette, which 
will go about among the societies giving special music 
at their meetings in order to stimulate them to do 
the like with home talent. Again, the union commit- 
tee may get a good musician to go among the soci- 
eties organizing society orchestras wherever possible — 
and it will be possible in a surprisingly large number 
of societies. Let every meeting of the union music 
committee bring out at least one good plan for the 
music of the societies, which the chairmen of the so- 
ciety music committees can take back with them and 
put into practice. 

Neighborhood " Sings." — Often it will stimulate the 
musical interests of the societies if the young people of 
several societies — those whose churches are near to- 



THE UNION MUSIC 163 

gether — meet in some vestry or private house for a 
good evening of song. Use the society song-books ; 
and you may use several in the course of the evening, 
the Endeavorers looking over together. Each society 
will choose its favorite songs from its own book. It 
will be a good drill at sight singing. Of course you 
will need to have an expert and enthusiastic leader. 
The union music committee will appoint these neigh- 
borhood groups throughout the city, and some mem- 
bers of the union committee will always be present to 
make the " sing " a success. 

A Union Singing- School. — The union music commit- 
tee will do much for the musical zeal and ability of the 
societies if once in a while it organizes a union singing- 
school. The instructor should be of the best, and a 
small fee should be charged to pay him and to make 
the Endeavorers value their privilege. The school 
should meet once or twice a week for several months, 
and the best of music should be practised. The teacher 
should have in mind the singing in the society prayer 
meeting, and should often give hints regarding it. The 
school may end with a concert, the proceeds to go to 
the union or to the instructor, as may be arranged. 

Union Hymn-books. — It is a good plan for a union 
to own a set of hymn-books, a number adequate to the 
largest mass meeting it is likely to hold. This will 
avoid the necessity of depending upon the singing 
books of the church where the union happens to meet, 
a different book each time, and not always suitable. 
Besides, the union will, of course, exercise the greatest 
care in choosing its song-book, and will make the se- 
lection a hint to the societies as to the best music. 



164 UNION WORK 

In this connection a word should be said for the 
song-books published by the United Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor. These books are varied in contents, 
some of them presenting more popular music than 
others, but all of them excellent in words and music. 
They have been prepared by leading musicians with 
the special needs of our societies constantly before 
them. They are low in price, attractive in form, and 
have proved to be very useful in many thousands of 
societies. Loyalty to our national organization, whose 
only support is its publication department, should lead 
all unions and societies to examine its song-books be- 
fore purchasing elsewhere, and to buy them if they 
prove to be the best. 

Society Choirs.— The union music committee will 
make it part of its task to organize choirs in the vari- 
ous societies, seeing that each has a good leader and is 
doing good work for its society and church. To stim- 
ulate these choirs the union may devote a meeting 
largely to songs by the different choirs, a jury of mu- 
sicians to give the award of a baton to the leader of 
the choir that does the best. The society choirs will 
also be used in the union mass meetings, taking turns 
in this service, and will be a strong feature of whatever 
concerts the union may give. 

A Union Chorus. — Whatever the societies may do 
with their choirs, the union itself should have a chorus 
in which all the choirs will be united together, with as 
many other singers among the Endeavorers as can be 
persuaded to join. Insist upon regular attendance upon 
the rehearsals. Have an inspiring leader with a pas- 
sion for the best music and a love for young people. 



THE UNION MUSIC 165 

Make much of the union chorus at the union meetings. 
Let it be as large as possible, but remember that size 
is not necessary for the best results. Do the best you 
can with the numbers you can obtain, and those num- 
bers will be sure to grow. 

A Union Orchestra. — If the union music committee 
can find a good orchestra leader for the work, it will 
be easy in most towns to bring together enough young 
people who play different musical instruments to make 
a capital orchestra. Of course if the societies have 
orchestras in any considerable number, a very large 
orchestra can be brought together. The union orches- 
tra will combine with the union choir in separate 
pieces, and will support the choir by its accompani- 
ments. 

Musical Loans. — The union music committee may 
constitute itself a musical exchange. It w T ill learn 
about the interesting musical features developed in any 
society, and will bring about the loan of those features 
to the other societies of the union. If, for example, 
some society discovers a good soloist or a good player 
upon the violin, he or she will be asked to go to this 
society and that and give them solos, vocal or instru- 
mental. The Endeavorer thus loaned will take part 
just as in his home society, and thus contribute doubly 
to the enjoyment and profit of his auditors. He will 
also on his return to his home society report the good 
methods he may have observed. 

Union Concerts. — If all this musical work is going 
on, or even only a part of it, a union concert once a 
year will be inevitable. It should be prepared with 



166 UNION WOEK 

the greatest care, and not advertised till it is thor- 
oughly ready. It should be advertised well and an ad- 
mission fee should be charged. The money will pay for 
the union music, for the services of the music leaders of 
the union, and perhaps will help out the general treasury. 

Music in the Union Meetings. — While a union choir 
and orchestra will give special pieces at the union meet- 
ings, there will be an opportunity for solos, both vocal 
and instrumental, and congregational singing will not 
be neglected. The first is necessary for the training 
of young singers and musicians. Do not think it neces- 
sary to bring in adult and experienced singers for the 
union meetings, but remember that the union is for the 
discovery of the future musicians of the church and 
their training, as well as to do similar work for the 
church along other lines. Though the beginners in 
solo-singing will not, of course, do so well as the ex- 
perienced singers you might introduce, yet the young 
people themselves will be more interested in the efforts 
of some from their own number than in the efficient 
work of older persons. 

As to congregational singing in the union meetings, 
make this also educational. It will be samples of the 
best work that can be done in the societies, and espe- 
cially it will show the society music leaders how to 
bring out the singing powers of their own members in 
their smaller meetings. Here, for example, will be 
practised the singing, first of the girls and then of the 
boys, first of the left side of the audience then of the 
right, the responsive singing of the main floor and the 
galleries, the singing of the stanzas by one society 
while the rest come in on the chorus, and many other 
variations on the ordinary singing. Here a sharp dis= 



THE UNION MUSIC 167 

tinction will be made between the prayer songs and 
the hymns of triumph, the marching songs and the 
songs of solemn ecstasy. The methods used in the 
union meetings will be used in the societies, provided 
the union music committee sees that each society has 
its song leader and its choir with a vigorous music com- 
mittee to keep them at work. 

Musical Contests. — Union music committees will do 
much to promote music in the societies if they will or- 
ganize musical contests. These may be of three kinds : 
singing by the individual societies, singing by society 
choirs, and playing by society orchestras. One night 
the first of these contests may be held, the next night 
the second, and the third night the third. The fourth 
night you may have a contest allowing the combina- 
tion of orchestra and society, or orchestra and choir. 
The judges in making their awards should consider 
the size of the choir or orchestra in relation to its so- 
ciety ; that is, a large society furnishing a small choir 
or orchestra should not receive so much honor as a 
small society furnishing a choir or orchestra of equal 
size, even if the quality of the music is equal. 

The music committee will stimulate the plan by 
visits to the different societies, urging that they enter 
into the contest. See to the appointment of music 
committees in all the societies. Let each society ap- 
point some leader of the singing, who will drill the 
society for a few minutes in each prayer meeting. En- 
courage home meetings for practice. Make the socie- 
ties understand that the spirited singing of ordinary 
hymns will make a better result of the contest than 
the rendition of any unusual piece. Keep to the front 
the goal of practical usefulness. 



168 UNION WORK 

A special public meeting of the union will have for 
its main feature the singing of the contesting societies 
or choirs or the playing of the contesting orchestras. 
Judges will be appointed — the most skilled musicians 
you can interest in the affair. The prize may be the 
classical one of wreaths of oak leaves placed upon the 
heads of the performers. If this public meeting is well 
advertised, it will be a great success. The address 
should treat the value of music in worship and should 
give practical suggestions with regard to it. 

A most happy and appropriate outcome of the con- 
test would be the formation of a union choir or or- 
chestra made up of the combined musical forces of the 
societies. 

Serving the Church with Union Music—Sometimes 
the local churches have special needs which the union 
musical organizations, the union choir and orchestra, 
can meet. Some church, for instance, may entertain 
an important denominational society. The Presbytery 
may meet in some church, or the State association of 
the denomination. The churches may have a series of 
union evangelistic meetings. There may be a union 
temperance rally. If the director of the union music 
and the chairman of the union music committee keep 
their eyes and ears open, they Avill find many opportu- 
nities for service of the churches with the union singers 
and musicians. And every such service will not only 
help the churches but will promote the popularity and 
influence of Christian Endeavor. 

Serving the Community with Union Music. — Some- 
times the union music committee can use the union 
musical organization for the good of the community at 



THE UNION MUSIC 169 

large. For example, it may organize groups of singers 
who will go around the streets singing Christmas carols 
on Christmas morning. Similarly New Year's hymns 
may be sung on New Year's evening. Patriotic songs 
may be sung on the common on the Fourth of July, 
and the orchestra may play patriotic airs. Marching 
songs may be learned, and the Endeavorers may form 
a feature of civic parades. These services will depend 
largely upon the varying needs of the times, but a 
wide-awake union music committee will meet those 
needs as they arise. 

Music in the State Union.— The musical work in 
county and district unions and in State unions will con- 
sist largely of seeing that the town and city unions 
have good music committees hard at work in the ways 
already described, and this may be brought about by 
the executive committees of the larger unions. Some- 
times, however, it may be best to appoint music direct- 
ors or superintendents for the larger unions, who will 
inspire the unions and societies over the wider area 
with their own musical enthusiasm. Such music su- 
perintendents, in co-operation with the local heads of the 
musical work, would have charge of the music of the 
county, district, and State conventions. 

State Hymns. — It is not easy to obtain a good State 
Christian Endeavor hymn ; and if the State has a poor 
one, every effort should be made to substitute one that is 
adequate. A State hymn should have inspiring words. 
It is abominable to force upon the young people mere 
doggerel and compel them to sing it as often as a State 
hymn must be sung. Moreover, the State hymn rep- 



170 UNION WOEK 

resents the society in a very conspicuous way, and if 
it is crude in words and a mere jig in tune, Christian 
Endeavor also is set down as crude and trivial. The 
State executive committee should, if it is in doubt 
about the State hymn, submit it to the judgment of a 
committee of good musical and literary judges. If 
they decide against it, then go to work and obtain a 
hymn that will meet with their unqualified approval 
both as to words and music. You may open a public 
competition ; though if you do this, see to it that the 
best talent available takes part in the competition. It 
is better usually to apply privately to poets and com- 
posers well known to the committee of judges, and get 
a State hymn from them. If the result is not just what 
you want, keep on trying till you get it. Better no 
State hymn at all than a poor one. 

Music in the Conventions.— In the chapter on con- 
ventions this subject will be more fully treated. It will 
suffice here to say that the convention music deserves 
the very best efforts of convention committees, and that 
the convention music committee should be made up of 
experts. They should not, however, be pedantic, but 
should have the spirit of youth ; and, while using only 
the best music, should realize that the bounding enthu- 
siasm of youth calls for something different from funeral 
marches, though these are classics. The music of our 
conventions should be an event in the higher life of all 
present, and it may be made this if the convention 
music committees are awake to their responsibilities 
and opportunities. 



THE UNIOX MUSIC 171 



Class Work on Chapter XVI 

The Leaders Questions 
Why should our union do musical work ? 
How should the union music committee be made up ? 
How will it conduct a conference ? 
How will it work to improve the society music ? 
How are neighborhood " sings " conducted ? 
How will a union singing school be managed ? 
Why should the union own its own hymn-books ? 
How will the union promote society choirs ? 
What are the advantages of a union chorus ? a union 

orchestra ? 
How will the music committee promote " musical 

loans " ? 
How will union concerts be arranged ? 
How ma}^ the music of union meetings be improved? 
How may musical contests be organized ? 
How will the union music help the churches ? 
To what community uses may the union music be put ? 
What musical work may be done in the State union ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Evangelistic Use of Music. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that poor singing in our societies is due to 
poor music books. 



CHAPTER XVII 

UNION PUBLICITY 

The Importance of Publicity. — Almost all secular 
business depends upon advertising, and so does our 
Father's business. If we want people to be interested 
in any work we must tell them about it ; and once tell- 
ing is not enough, we must remind them of it as long 
as we want their interest to continue. Gifts to mis- 
sions have greatly increased since bright methods of 
telling the people about missions have been adopted. 
Interest in the temperance cause is tremendously pro- 
moted by the very able periodical and book literature 
on the subject. Christian Endeavor from the begin- 
ning has been wide-awake to the value of printer's ink, 
and has profited immensely from the use of it. The 
local societies can and should have their press com- 
mittees, which will give what publicity they can to the 
work of the societies and the churches with which they 
are connected ; but a society working by itself along 
this line works at a great disadvantage. The papers 
will deal with a single representative of all the socie- 
ties, but will not be bothered with a dozen representa- 
tives from a dozen separate societies. ~No one society 
can furnish a constant weekly bulletin of interest, but 
a dozen societies can fill such a bulletin with bright 
items without trouble. Publicity, therefore, is a legiti- 
mate union enterprise ; it is a task in which the co-opera- 
tion of the societies is positively necessary. 

172 



UNION PUBLICITY 173 

Moreover, from the view-point of the education for 
the kingdom of God which Christian Endeavor carries 
on, this union press work is very important. Skilled 
publicity men will be of the greatest advantage to the 
church of the future ; quite essential, in fact, if the 
church is to hold her own with secular forces. No- 
where can they be trained more efficiently than in this 
union press work. Therefore it is to be pushed for the 
sake not only of the present gains of the churches and 
their Christian Endeavor societies and the Christian 
Endeavor union, but even more for the sake of the 
future progress of the kingdom of God. 

The Union Press Committee Organized. — For the 
chairman of the union press committee you must have 
a good executive who is systematic and ardent and can 
inspire others with his enthusiasm. He must be a good 
writer and must have some practical knowledge of news- 
paper work, or at least the ability to absorb such knowl- 
edge quickly. For his assistants on the committee you 
will obtain as many skilled workers as possible, gradu- 
ally working in others for the sake of the training and 
to provide successors. 

If the union is small the press committee will con- 
tain one representative from each society. He will 
naturally be the chairman of the society press com- 
mittee, for such a committee will be organized in each 
society. If it is not already organized, the first work 
of the union press committee will be to see that every 
society has a press committee. If the union is too 
large for this, it will contain a member from each sec- 
tion of the city, who will be responsible for gathering 
the news of his section from his local press committees. 
These local press committees should not be large, but 



174 UNION WOBK 

should usually be of more than one member, partly for 
the sake of the training and partly that the field may 
be more efficiently covered. 

Systematize the Work. — The work of gathering and 
preparing the news of the week must go on with clock- 
like precision. On a certain day and at a certain time 
on that day each local press committee will hand 
its items to a section committeeman, who will hand 
them immediately to the chairman of the union com- 
mittee. Of course, if there are no sectional divisions, 
the copy will go directly to the union chairman. The 
local workers will be so drilled in matter and method 
that their copy will require little or no editing, but can 
at once be sent to the papers. 

Promptness and Timeliness. — The chairman must 
insist that there shall be no delay in this process. He 
must get his copy in on time. Newspapers cannot wait 
for any one, least of all will they wait for religious 
news. Promptness is not only a newspaper necessity 
but it is a valuable element in the drill. 

Timeliness is equally necessary. Whatever is re- 
ported must have happened within a week if you are 
reporting for weeklies, or on the preceding day if you 
are reporting for a daily. There is nothing upon 
which a journalist looks with greater scorn than stale 
news. The minute after a thing has happened is the 
time for writing it up for the press. The next half- 
hour is the ideal time for sending it in ! 

What Topics to Treat.— The average person has no 
" news sense." He knows that he enjoys reading cer- 
tain things and does not enjoy reading other things, 



UNION PUBLICITY 175 

but never stops to think what kind of matter each is. 
The born reporter has, by instinct or careful reasoning 
and observation, a knowledge of what will interest 
people. He knows, for instance, that while a list of 
the persons chosen for officers of a society will interest 
those persons greatly and will interest their immediate 
friends mildly, it will be the dullest kind of reading 
for every one else ; therefore he avoids such lists of 
officers as he would the plague. That, on the other 
hand, is precisely the material with which a person 
with no " nose for news " fills his column. 

Nothing is more important in writing for the press 
than the selection of topics. This selection must be 
made with an eye to the paper for which you are writ- 
ing. Personal items that are full of interest in a local 
paper, published where the parties are well known, 
would be quite barren of interest in a national paper. 
On the other hand, items regarding the society's rela- 
tion to great national movements would be full of in- 
terest in the national paper, but would be of interest 
in a local paper only if accompanied by a careful ex- 
planation. 

Therefore no rule for the choice of topics can be 
given, except that of imaginative sympathy. " Put 
yourself in his place," the place of your reader, and try 
to judge how the proposed topic would appeal to him. 
A bright writer can add interest to any topic, but his 
work is far more successful if he starts with a topic in 
which the reader's interest is assured. 

Young writers for the press are often advised to 
study the paper for which they write and send it such 
paragraphs as it is in the habit of printing. If, how- 
ever, the paper is filled with trifling personal gossip, 
the religious reporter will make a mistake if he imi- 



176 UNION WOEK 

tates its contents. What advantage comes to the king- 
dom of God from an addition to the number of such 
paragraphs ? Our Christian Endeavor items must rise 
above personal gossip, or it is not worth while troubling 
ourselves and the editors with them. Let the Christian 
Endeavor reporter consider the actual work of his so- 
ciety. What is it doing that is really worth while ? 
This is what is to be reported. Of course, if it is novel, 
so much the better, though we must remember that 
much religious work that is perfectly familiar to church 
people is a novelty to those that do not go to church. 
New methods are always worth reporting. So are all 
worthy achievements. The best item from the news- 
paper view-point is one that pictures in a fresh way 
some original and striking deed. These, however, are 
not to be recorded every day, while faithful effort and 
faithful accomplishment may be reported right along. 
It is the business of the press committee to report it in 
a readable way. 

How to Write the News.— The very first rule for 
young writers is, " Be simple." Affected, pompous, 
pretentious writing is always out of place, but espe- 
cially is such writing on the simple themes that are 
treated by Christian Endeavor correspondents. 

The second rule is, " Be clear." See that your sen- 
tences mean one thing and only one. Do not invert 
your sentences or leave out the little words that belong 
in them. 

The third rule is, "Be brief." This does not mean 
that you are to squeeze the juice out of your items, but 
that you are to say your say straightforwardly, and, 
having said it, stop. Omit the introduction, cut out 
unnecessary explanations, and leave off the comment at 



UNION PUBLICITY 177 

the close. Just give the news. Your readers prefer 
to think their own thoughts about it, and not yours. 

The fourth rule is, " Be bright." A bit of fun is 
always good news. A snappy, unusual way of putting 
things is a boon to any paper. Every touch of orig- 
inality and freshness that you can introduce will make 
your manuscript doubly welcome. 

The fifth rule — it should really stand first for many 
reasons — is, u Be accurate." Be sure of your facts. 
Make every detail exact. Do not guess at figures. 
Spell proper names just as they should be spelled, and 
print them out unless your penmanship is as plain as 
print, or unless — better still — you are using a type- 
writer. When you make an editor print a correction 
in the next number, you have about destroyed your 
hold upon him and his paper. 

Set before you the best models, which you will find 
in the leading papers. Study them carefully and often. 
Go over thoughtfully every bit of manuscript you send 
in, trying to improve it. Study your writings after 
they appear in print, and do not rest satisfied unless 
your work shows a decided improvement week after 
week. Writing is a difficult art, and all writing on 
religious themes or for the sake of the church is of the 
utmost importance. Seek to do your very best. 

The Preparation of Copy. — Most editors insist upon 
typewritten copy. If you can get a typewriter, learn 
to use it. The final copy sent in by the chairman of 
the union committee should be typewritten always, 
though the copy as received from the local writers need 
only be written very clearly. Where the same material 
is sent to several papers it may be manifolded, but 
every copy should be clear. Some papers call for copy 



178 UNION WOEK 

furnished to them alone. In that case, different mem- 
bers of the union press committee will be assigned to 
the different papers of the city, each studying the re- 
quirements of the paper to which he is assigned and 
seeking to meet these requirements. Of course the 
same news from the societies will be open to all these 
special reporters. 

In the preparation of copy, note carefully the right 
way to make the paragraph, and put ample space be- 
tween the different paragraphs of a disconnected series. 
Refer to the dictionary constantly for spelling and com- 
pounding. Learn the right use of the comma, semi- 
colon, and colon. Look out for your quotation marks. 
Capitalize properly. Always keep an exact copy of 
your items and compare it with the printed result, 
noting the errors which the editor had to correct and 
the changes he made in the sentences, so that you will 
not make these mistakes in the future. Upon your 
care in these particulars will depend much of your 
progress, and your increase in value to the paper. 

Getting into the Papers. — Of course our Christian 
Endeavor press committees will not expect to be paid 
for their work. They will be glad to get their items 
printed without pay. And generally the editors will 
be glad to print them, provided they are of the right 
sort. Any editor, however, knowing how rare is the 
news sense together with the ability to write clearly 
and brightly, will look with suspicion upon the offer of 
a set of amateurs to furnish copy for his paper. Do 
not propose at the start a regular Christian Endeavor 
department. Merely send in your items, and let the 
editor use what he pleases and print them where he 
pleases. Be grateful at first, and a little surprised, if a 



UNION PUBLICITY 179 

single one ont of perhaps two dozen items appears in 
print. Be willing to serve your apprenticeship. If 
you know the editor personally, you may be able to 
arrange with him for regular correspondence, getting 
his advice regarding its nature and especially learning 
from him just when it should be sent in. If you have 
not this personal acquaintance, simply send the news 
by mail, addressing it not to him but to the paper. If 
you do your work well, space will be made for it grad- 
ually, and as fast as the editor becomes convinced of 
its value. Your success in getting in will depend solely 
upon your skill in preparing interesting and vital news 
and sending it to him in the right shape. Personal 
influence has nothing to do with it. " Bulldozing " 
methods will not work. Persistent calling will have 
no effect — at least, no favorable effect. Nothing will 
win the day for the press committee except journalistic 
ability. And that you can gain if you will. 

Christian Endeavor Departments in Secular Pa- 
pers. — The secular papers will in time be willing to 
give you regular space for Christian Endeavor depart- 
ments if you prove your ability to make them interest- 
ing — genuine " circulation-feeders." You will put into 
these departments every week the most important do- 
ings of the societies and of the churches, and the most 
interesting news about the progress of Christian En- 
deavor in the world field. Generally comments on 
the Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting topics will not 
be wanted, as most papers that use them at all obtain 
them from the syndicates. 

Christian Endeavor in the Religious Weeklies. — 
The papers published by the different denominations 



180 UNION WOEK 

require a different treatment from that accorded the 
secular papers. For the purpose of reaching the re- 
ligious weeklies the press committee will divide itself 
denominationally. The representatives of the Presby- 
terian societies, for instance, will constitute a Presby- 
terian section. They will gather all the news they can 
from the Presbyterian churches and societies in the 
union, and after they have brought together a little 
budget of the most newsy items — not waiting till they 
become stale — they will send them off to the denomi- 
national papers. Church news will be included with 
the Christian Endeavor news, and thus the committee 
will do the widest service for their churches as well as 
their societies. In this work the interests of the larger 
field must be borne in mind. Remember that those 
readers do not care for local personalities, but want to 
hear about whatever is of general interest. 

What " The Christian Endeavor World " Wants.— I 
know very well the kind of news The Christian En- 
deavor World is eager to print, and a description of it 
will indicate what news every other paper wants, after 
proper account is taken of the differences in constituency. 
As our national Christian Endeavor paper goes all over 
the world and to all parts of America, it cannot take 
room for items that are of interest only locally. It can- 
not print a line that is put in to satisfy personal ambi- 
tion or to please some influential local Endeavorer. 
To be sure, it would help the paper to gain the approval 
of such persons, but it must be gained by other means, 
if at all. 

So, first, The Christian Endeavor World wants news 
while it is news. Correspondents that tarry till the 
convention report is printed in some weekly paper or 



UNION PUBLICITY 181 

even in pamphlet form and then send us that are of no 
earthly use to us. If the convention report is mailed 
to us, as it should be, the very day after the close of 
the convention, even then, on account of our large 
editions and widely extended circulation, it will be 
three weeks before the report can reach our sub- 
scribers. 

In the convention report we want few names and 
few subjects of addresses — only what is vital. If a 
bright new topic is treated, we want to know it. If a 
widely-known speaker takes part, tell us. If an ob- 
scure speaker gets off a striking sentence, quote it. If 
a new convention method is tried, describe it. Any- 
thing that is fresh and interesting and helpful ; nothing 
that is routine, commonplace, and dull. 

The same is true of the reports of society and union 
work. We are sometimes charged with neglecting 
certain States or cities or countries in our news page. 
The charge is absurd. It is to our interest and the 
interest of the Christian Endeavor cause that every city 
and State and country should receive full and frequent 
mention. But not unless the real news is sent us. We 
are all the time trying to get it, but we do not always 
succeed. I am quite safe in saying that no piece of 
vital, interesting news was ever sent us and failed to 
get into print. We may have had to condense a thou- 
sand words into a hundred ; but the essence of it was 
given, and given with all desirable fulness. Like all 
other editors, we must be the judge of that ; and it is 
in every w T ay to our interest to judge wisely. 

These remarks would doubtless receive the hearty 
assent of every editor for whom our press committees 
write, as applied to their respective papers. Nothing 
is more unmanly than the whine of a writer who fails 



182 UNION WOEK 

to get by an editor's blue pencil. Nothing is easier 
than to charge him with stupid carelessness or prejudice. 
And nothing, in the vast majority of cases, is more 
foolish than such a charge. 

Press-Committee Scrap-books. — The chairman of 
the press committee or one of the members of the 
committee will make clippings of everything written 
by the committee which is published, and will paste 
it all in chronological order in a committee scrap- 
book, marking each clipping with the name of the 
paper that printed it. This scrap-book will be of great 
value to the committee in judging of their progress in 
the work, and will be most useful as a guide to follow- 
ing committees, to whom it should be handed down. 
There will be a place in the scrap-book for all the 
advertising material which the committee gets out — 
whatever it does in the way of publicity. 

The Union Advertising. — This may well be placed 
in the hands of the press committee, and in that case 
the name, " Publicity Committee," would be more ap- 
propriate. The committee will prepare the posters for 
the union mass meetings, or the handbills, which may 
be distributed from house to house or sent through the 
mail. Some of these will be placed upon the town 
bulletin boards and the bulletin boards of the churches. 
Posters may be placed in shop-windows. Circulars 
may be written describing various special operations of 
the union, such as its hospital work. Notices may be 
sent to the pastors for reading in the pulpit and inser- 
tion in the church papers or church calendars. In- 
deed, the scope of the union press committee may be 
greatly extended if it also attends to the general 
publicity of the union. 



UNION PUBLICITY 183 

Local Christian Endeavor Papers. — The union press 
committee may conduct the union bulletin or local 
Christian Endeavor paper, if it is thought wise to 
publish one. In that case a member of the committee 
will be appointed editor, and will have this as his 
particular province, aided by the other members of the 
committee as he calls upon them. A four- or eight-page 
monthly entirely devoted to the work of the union 
may be supported by advertisements in most unions. 
A State union can support a larger paper by subscrip- 
tions, but care should be taken to begin on a very small 
scale and increase the size of the paper only gradually 
and never beyond the certain income of the sheet. A 
very few unions have made the State paper a source of 
profit ; far more have incurred heavy losses on account 
of foolishly ambitious newspaper enterprises. Gen- 
erally speaking, the most sensible publication is merely 
a printed bulletin with no advertisements and no sub- 
scription list, printed when the need for it arises and 
sent free through the mail at full postage rates. Three 
or four times a year will usually be a frequent enough 
issue of the little news-letter or bulletin, which thus 
becomes a valuable adjunct to the union publicity at 
little trouble or expense. 

Convention Press Committees. — The State and 
national Christian Endeavor conventions require much 
publicity both beforehand and afterwards if they are to 
be successful. The convention press committee should 
consist of seasoned workers from the union of the con- 
vention city. It should get to work as early as pos- 
sible ; indeed, as soon as the convention city is chosen. 
If it is a State convention, its field is the papers of the 
State, and sometimes those of adjoining States ; but if 



184 UNION WORK 

it is a national convention, its field is as wide as the 
nation. Special articles about the convention will be 
written for the more important papers, and frequent 
printed bulletins will be sent out to all the papers. 
Care should be taken to make these bulletins really in- 
teresting, otherwise the editors will not use them. 
Short paragraphs are the best form. Use only the es- 
sential details of time and place. Pack the bulletins 
full of the facts that will interest the average reader. 
Use anecdotes of the more striking speakers, and pos- 
sibly their portraits. Use brisk sentences relating to 
the more striking subjects to be treated. Describe in 
snappy sentences the unique and unusual features of the 
convention. If you include items about the same fact 
in successive bulletins, get different persons to write 
them and make them as different as possible. 

With all this publicity will go attractive posters for 
society bulletin boards and shop-windows, " stickers " 
for the backs of envelopes, circulars for corresponding 
secretaries, and every other kind of advertisement that 
the committee can devise. 

Then, during the convention the press committee will 
see that the local papers keep reporters in attendance 
on the session and will care for their comfort, furnish- 
ing them with particulars about the speakers and with 
other facts about the work. If possible, arrange with 
the editors to treat the convention editorially at some 
time during the session. 

Immediately after the convention send out over the 
State a w T ell-written brief account of the gathering, 
which many county and town papers will publish. 
During the convention see that the Associated Press 
sends an item about it to the metropolitan dailies. 
Urge the local press committees over the State to in- 



UNION PUBLICITY 185 

troduce items regarding it into their local columns. 
Encourage echo meetings of the delegates, and dis- 
tribute before the convention is over a printed plan for 
a bright echo meeting, giving an outline of the conven- 
tion under headings that may be used as subjects by a 
succession of speakers at the echo meetings. The con- 
vention press committee has much to do toward render- 
ing permanent the results of the gathering. 



Class Work on Chapter XVII 

The Leaders Questions 
How is publicity valuable in the work of a Christian 

Endeavor union ? 
How is the union press committee organized ? 
What features of the work should be emphasized ? 
What topics should the committee treat ? 
How should the news be written ? 
How should copy be prepared ? 
How can the committee get into the papers ? 
What work should be done in the secular papers ? in 

the religious weeklies ? 
What does The Christian Endeavor World want ? 
What will the committee scrap-book contain ? 
What union advertising will the committee attend to ? 
When are local Christian Endeavor papers useful ? 
What is the work of a convention press committee ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Publicity Pays. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Besolced, that our union should print a monthly bul- 
letin. 



CHAPTEE XVIII 

THE UNION LITEEATUEE COMMITTEE 

Why a Union Literature Committee? — Every so- 
ciety should have a literature committee (or a " good- 
literature committee," as it is commonly called, though 
the " good " should be superfluous among Christian 
Endeavorers !) and one of the first duties of the union 
literature committee is to see that similar committees 
are appointed in the societies. This of itself would 
warrant the appointment of the union literature com- 
mittee, at least till the societies had their committees at 
work. And there is much that a union literature com- 
mittee may do that society committees cannot do. 
There is need of a central bureau for this work, to give 
information and to focus and strengthen effort. Few 
unions have literature committees, but all should form 
them. 

The Make-up of the Committee.— The chairman of 
the union literature committee will be a young man or 
young woman who knows much about books and 
periodicals, whose taste is well developed, whose 
sympathies are wide, and who is a good executive. 
The rest of the committee may consist of the chairmen 
of the society literature committees. There will be 
work for a large committee if the suggestions given be- 
low are carried out. 

The Literature- Committee Conference. — Hold this 
conference early in the society year, or at least as soon 

186 



THE UNION LITERATURE COMMITTEE 187 

as most of the societies have formed literature com- 
mittees. Bring together all the members of these com- 
mittees. Open the meeting by an earnest talk on the 
value of good books and papers. This talk should be 
given by the best speaker you can find, one in love with 
the subject, but also one who can confine his words on 
this fascinating theme to fifteen minutes. Follow this 
with an open discussion of the work of the literature 
committee in the societies, as outlined in the United 
Society's pamphlet on this committee, including many 
questions and answers. Discuss also the literature 
work of the union, and show how the society literature 
committees may aid it. 

The Union Literature Exchange. — Every union 
should establish a union literature exchange, whose 
work is to learn where good reading matter that has 
been used may have further use, and keep a list of 
these addresses ready for the societies. The literature 
exchange will investigate each address and make sure 
that good use is made of all reading matter sent there. 
The literature exchange will also learn how papers and 
books should be sent, and give this information to the 
societies. Union literature exchanges should be in 
communication, so that an address found by one union 
to be all right may be passed on to other unions with 
full information regarding it, thus greatly simplifying 
the work. These lists will be changed from time to 
time, and when one address for any reason is no longer 
to be used, a statement to this effect should be sent to 
the other union literature exchanges, with the reason 
for dropping the name. The union literature exchange 
should be a permanency, and may consist of only one 
Endeavorer reappointed year after year. This is good 



188 UNION WOEK 

work for some shut-in Endeavorer who is faithful to 
little details. 

A United Society Agency. — The union literature 
committee should be a regular and active agency for 
the sale of the books and pamphlets on Christian En- 
deavor methods published by the United Society of 
Christian Endeavor, as well as the official pins, badges, 
pennants, and other helps for the inspiring of the En- 
deavorers. The members of the committee should all 
have copies of the United Society's catalogue, and the 
committee should keep on hand samples of everything 
in the United Society's stock. These samples should 
be exhibited at every meeting of the union and orders 
taken. A number of copies of all the most popular 
articles should be on hand ready for immediate sale. 
Through the society literature committees the sale of 
new helps will be further pushed in the local societies. 
This feature of the work is most important, not only to 
the United Society, whose existence depends upon the 
profits of its publication department, but also to the 
societies of the union, whose good work depends upon 
their learning the best methods which are so fully de- 
scribed in the publications of the United Society. 

An Agency for " The Christian Endeavor World." — 
The international Christian Endeavor organ is as neces- 
sary to the work as the publications of the United So- 
ciety. It prints the doings of the societies and unions 
all over the world, and gives the first news of the large 
plans of the United Society. In its pages appear first 
all the most helpful methods of work. At the same 
time, with its prayer -meeting helps, its inspiring articles, 
poems, and stories, and its many admirable depart- 
ments, it is a great blessing to the private life of every 



THE UNION LITEEATUEE COMMITTEE 189 

reader. The union literature committee, working 
through the society literature committees, should see 
that every society has a large club for The Christian 
Endeavor World, and that the club is kept up year 
after year. The cash commission and many premiums 
given for new subscriptions may become a union asset 
of considerable value if the union does not give the 
premium advantage to the societies. 

Other Periodicals.— The union literature committee 
will promote the subscription lists of the local and State 
Christian Endeavor papers, if there are any, and will 
do what it can toward obtaining subscriptions for the 
denominational papers, though here the denominational 
committee, if you have one, will be most active. One 
day may well be set apart as ■" Religious Paper Day," 
a thorough canvass being made on that day for the 
various religious papers — Christian Endeavor, denomi- 
national, and interdenominational. 

Gather Up the Papers and Magazines. — The union 
literature committee through the society committees 
will systematically gather up all the thousands of good 
papers and magazines which have been read in the 
homes of the Endeavorers and their friends, and which 
would ordinarily be burned up or thrown away. These 
should be put where they will do good, and the places 
for them are very numerous. They may be placed in 
weather-proof receptacles on the backs of park seats. 
They may be put into barber shops, replacing or coun- 
teracting some of the worthless reading matter usually 
found there. In suitable receptacles (all these recep- 
tacles will bear the name of the Christian Endeavor 
union) they will be placed in the hotels, the railroad 



190 UNION WOEK 

stations, the police stations, the fire-department sta- 
tions, the old ladies' homes, orphans' homes, poorhouses, 
prisons, hospitals, asylums — indeed, in every place 
where experience proves that they will be well used. 
They may be sent on board ship. They may be placed 
in army posts and in navy yards. They may be sent 
to lumber camps, where they will be read with eager- 
ness. The missionaries will be glad to have them, for 
missionary salaries afford small sums for subscriptions ; 
and when the missionary has read them, he will know 
of others that will appreciate them. It is a sin to 
throw away food for the body when there are so many 
hungry people in the world, and it is an equal sin to 
throw away food for the mind. 

The literature committee will have regular days, 
once a month, or oftener, w 7 hen the society committees 
will gather up this reading matter and bring it to some 
central place where it will be sorted, made up into 
bundles, and taken to these various institutions. 

Gather Up the Books.— In the same way that the 
literature committee brings together the papers and 
magazines which have been read and are no longer 
wanted, it will gather up the old books and put them 
to good new uses. Careful discrimination must be ex- 
ercised here, since bad books sometimes get even into 
Christian homes, and Christian Endeavor must not give 
them further circulation ; but most of the books will be 
clean and well worth passing along. The committee 
will sort them — some for the young people in the 
libraries of mission Sunday schools, some for the sailors, 
some for missionaries, and so on. Every book should 
carry a label saying that it comes from your Christian 
Endeavor union with the good will of the young people. 



THE UNION LITEKATUKE COMMITTEE 191 

Libraries. — The union literature committee will 
further the formation of Christian Endeavor libraries 
by the societies. These libraries will consist of books 
on Christian Endeavor methods, together with the 
pamphlets and leaflets for the different committees and 
lines of work ready to lend to the successive officers 
and committee chairmen. There will also be books 
on the history of Christian Endeavor, on temperance, 
on missions, and on the history of your denomination. 
Society librarians will be appointed, and the society 
collections will be kept up by the addition of the latest 
Christian Endeavor literature. 

The union also will have a Christian Endeavor 
library full of books on Christian Endeavor, especially 
for lending to societies that have no libraries and 
to ministers that wish to study the Christian Endeavor 
work. The union lookout committee will find this 
library very useful. A union librarian may be ap- 
pointed who will take charge of the union library and 
who will once a year hold a conference of the society 
librarians. 

The union will also further the use of the public library 
by noting the best religious books in it and sending 
lists of them now and then to the societies, particularly 
mentioning those books that fit in with the current 
prayer-meeting topics, not forgetting the missionary 
and temperance topics, unless the union missionary 
and temperance committees do this work for them- 
selves. The library authorities will be glad to have 
suggestions now and then of new Christian Endeavor 
books which should be in the public library. Some- 
times the public library will lend little collections of 
books, perhaps fifty at a time, to societies that will 
make a business of reading them and then of exchang- 



192 UNION WOEK 

ing them for fifty more, just as certain libraries do this 
for Sunday schools. 

Many towns have no library at all, and in these the 
union literature committee may start a movement for a 
public library. Get the influential citizens back of you 
if you can. Receive subscriptions for the purchase of 
books. Get as many persons as possible to donate 
books. Have a committee of well-known readers and 
scholars appointed for passing on the books to be ad- 
mitted. If you cannot get a special room for the 
library, have it kept in a private house. Let the En- 
deavorers take turns acting as librarian for a few hours 
each day. You will be surprised to see how rapidly 
and easily the books come in, and how interested peo- 
ple will be in the plan as soon as it is started. 

Reading Bulletins.— It will aid the Endeavorers in 
their reading if the union literature committee gets 
different Endeavorers to read the various prominent 
periodicals, one apiece, reporting to the committee 
chairman the best things in each number. A bulletin 
containing this information may be duplicated and sent 
to the societies for posting on their bulletin boards. 
Worth-while books will also be named, with, in each 
case, the name of the Endeavorer who vouches for the 
book. 

The Use of Clippings. — The union literature com- 
mittee will do a good deed if it interests the societies, 
through their literature committees, in the collecting' 
of clippings on various subjects. These clippings may 
be pasted in scrap-books, one for each subject, or they 
may be placed in a series of envelopes, each for a sub- 
ject. Each committee will have an envelope or a scrap- 



THE TJXION LITERATURE COMMITTEE 193 

book, and there will be an envelope for each prominent 
religious theme likely to be treated in the prayer 
meeting, such as prayer, patience, the Bible, Sunday, 
courage, Christmas, Easter, patriotism. 

Interesting collections of clippings, poetry and prose, 
may be made for hospitals and mounted upon light 
cards easy for sick folks to handle. 

The Use of Tracts.— The union literature committee 
may get a supply of helpful gospel tracts, and persuade 
the societies to purchase them and give them away. 
Each member will take a few and see that they are 
placed where they will do the most good and will be 
read. Once a year, at some appropriate meeting, call 
for the recital of experiences connected with these 
tracts. 

Reading Courses. — One of the best ways to set the 
Endeavorers to reading good books is through the offer 
of some rew T ard for the best and longest list of books 
read by any Endeavorer of the union in a specified 
time, say three months. You will appoint a committee 
of advice on good books, those being chosen that are 
accessible to the Endeavorers. The Endeavorers may 
form their own courses, and they may be largely fiction 
(but it must be of the best), or largely of something 
better than fiction, as history and biography. 

Beading circles may be formed throughout the union 
with the aid of the union literature committee. The 
committee will suggest the plan to the societies, will 
tell its many advantages, and will name a few interest- 
ing and wise books that are good to read aloud ; books, 
for instance, like Mary Antin's " The Promised Land." 



194 UNION WOEK 



Class Work on Chapter XVIII 

The Leader's Questions 

Why should our union have a literature committee ? 

How should the committee be made up ? 

How will a literature-committee conference be con- 
ducted ? 

What is the work of a union literature exchange ? 

What is the work of a United Society agency ? of an 
agency for The Christian Endeavor World? for 
other periodicals ? 

How will the literature committee collect good reading 
matter ? 

How will the literature committee promote the forma- 
tion of Christian Endeavor libraries ? 

What will the committee do with reading bulletins? 

How will the committee use clippings ? 

How will the committee promote the use of tracts ? 

How will the committee promote the use of reading 
courses ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Eead Only the Best. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should establish a Christian 
Endeavor library. 



CHAPTER XIX 

UNION WORK FOR JUNIORS AND 
INTERMEDIATES 

When Should We Have a Junior Union ? — Not 
many cities have formed Junior unions, and far more 
should have them than are enjoying them now. Most 
cities that can support a union of the Young People's 
societies have enough Junior societies to form a success- 
ful union ; and even where the Junior societies are few, 
if there is a union of the older societies, the few Junior 
societies may well unite. Their joint efforts should be 
exerted for a while mainly toward the formation of 
new Junior societies, thus strengthening the Junior 
union and the cause of Christian Endeavor at the same 
time. By all means form a Junior union. 

Relation between the Two Unions. — At the start 
the Young People's union will aid the Junior union 
and be very closely connected with it. The older 
union will appoint a Junior superintendent, who, with 
a committee from the older union, will form a Junior 
union. He or she will probably become the first presi- 
dent of the Junior union. The Junior union president 
will be a member ex officio of the executive committee 
of the older union, and the older union will help the 
Junior union financially and with advice and moral 
support till it is well established. Later, of course, the 
two unions will become more independent of each other, 
but always the president of the Junior union should be 

195 



196 UNION WOEK 

a member of the executive committee of the Young 
People's union, and make reports to the latter union as 
an officer of it. The two unions will hold a joint meet- 
ing at least once a year, and they may co-operate in 
much of their committee work, such as the work for 
hospitals, the country week, and the work for the poor. 

The Organization of the Junior Union. — The Junior 
union will have a full set of officers and many of the 
same committees that are found in the older union, 
such as the lookout committee, the missionary com- 
mittee, the social committee, the music committee, and, 
of course, the executive committee. The officers of 
the Junior union will be mainly the Junior superin- 
tendents, and all of these superintendents may belong 
to the executive committee. You will do well, how- 
ever, to place upon the union committees (not as chair- 
men of course) a number of the oldest and brightest of 
the Juniors themselves, thus initiating them into the 
work and developing their powers for larger activities. 
You will be surprised to see how much the Juniors can 
do even of this wide and outreaching work. 

Junior Superintendents' Conferences. — Whether 
they are held under the auspices of the older union and 
its Junior superintendent, or you have a Junior union 
and they are held under its auspices, every town with 
two or more Junior societies should have frequent con- 
ferences of the superintendents. The assistant superin- 
tendents will also come, of course ; and if some societies 
are managed by Junior committees from the Young 
People's societies, these committees also will attend the 
conference. 

It is well to close each conference with a general dis- 



WOEK FOE JUXIOES AND INTEEMEDIATES 197 

cussion of all points that the superintendents want to 
bring up ; but each conference should centre about some 
large theme connected with the conduct of the Junior 
society, such as how to keep order, how to interest the 
children in missions, and how to get the children to 
speak out of their own religious experiences. The topic 
will be opened by some superintendent of ability and 
knowledge, and then others will speak and there will 
be a genuine give and take of thought and experience. 
If a social hour with light refreshments closes the con- 
ference, it will bring the superintendents close together 
and greatly promote the interchange of thought. These 
conferences may well be held as often as once a month 
during the fall, winter, and spring. The older Juniors 
should sometimes be invited, those whom the superin- 
tendents think they can develop into superintendents. 
They will imbibe from the conferences much of the 
spirit of Junior work and many of the best principles 
and methods. 

The Junior Union Lookout Committee.— If the 
Junior union is formed, it should relieve the lookout 
committee of the older union of the task of forming 
new Junior societies, since the superintendents of the 
Junior societies already formed are the best persons to 
advocate the extension of such work and establish new 
societies. They can go to the pastors, and especially 
the pastors' wives, and the heads of the Sunday-school 
primary departments, and can show them what an ad- 
vantage a Junior society would be to the church and 
to all connected with the church. They can bring the 
children together in a bright meeting and tell them 
what the Junior society is and does, and draw them all 
into the new organization on the spot. They can lay 



198 UNION WOEK 

their hands upon some young woman or young man 
who will become the first superintendent, or they can 
get the Young People's society to appoint a Junior 
committee to conduct the Junior society. And they 
can stand by the new society with advice and much 
practical aid till it is well on its feet. The Junior union 
lookout committee will not feel that its work is done 
till it has formed a Junior society in every church that 
has a Young People's society — and in other places as 
well, such as orphans' homes and in rural communities. 

Junior Intervisitation. — The lookout committee of 
the Junior union may arrange a system of intervisita- 
tion like that of the older union. Delegates will be 
appointed by each society to visit some other society 
every week and report to their home society the follow- 
ing Sunday, telling the most interesting things they saw 
and heard. Two may go from each Junior society, and 
one of the two will be an older girl or boy. One or 
both of these will take part in the meeting they visit. 
The union committee will arrange the schedule so that 
each society will send a delegation and receive a dele- 
gation every night as long as the series of visits lasts. 

Junior Outings The Junior union social committee 

will find its chief service to be the planning and man- 
agement of outings in which all the Junior societies 
will share. These may be union picnics or trolley rides 
or walks or boat rides or excursions on the railways. 
They will have worth-while aims, such as a visit to 
some famous place or to become familiar with the dif- 
ferent kinds of trees and flowers. Union sports will 
be planned, such as a series of athletic contests. Each 
superintendent will care for her own society, but all 



WORK FOR JUNIORS AND INTERMEDIATES 199 

will join in the plans for the day. One result should 
be a better acquaintance of the Juniors of different 
churches and denominations. 

Junior Exhibits. — The lookout committee of the 
Junior union will be of great service to the superin- 
tendents if it gathers up from each superintendent the 
best methods she has used so far as these can be illus- 
trated by objects, charts, maps, etc. The collection 
will be exhibited at every superintendents' conference. 
The member of the lookout committee who has the ex- 
hibit in charge will understand the use of every object 
in it, and be glad to explain. Keep the exhibit fresh, 
and constantly urge the superintendents to add to it 
their very best ideas. 

Form Junior Committees.— In all this work the 
union lookout committee will be confronted with the 
difficulty of obtaining Junior superintendents ; and 
here comes in the fine plan of substituting for the 
Junior superintendent, where such a person cannot be 
found, a Junior committee from the Young People's 
society, whose members will divide the work of a 
Junior superintendent among them. Out of these 
Junior committees in time many superintendents will 
be developed, but in the meantime the Junior societies 
will get along quite as well as under a single superin- 
tendent, and perhaps better. The Young People's so- 
ciety will be more interested in the Juniors, and will 
aid them in many ways. If the union lookout commit- 
tee will only lay the cause of the children upon the 
consciences of the Endeavorers, it will not be hard to 
form these Junior committees. One member of the 
committee will preside over the Junior meetings, an- 



200 UNION WORK 

other will give chalk talks, another will conduct the 
committee work, another will run the socials, another 
will see to the music, another will keep order, etc. 
Whatever each knows best and can do best will be 
contributed to the Junior society. 

Pastors and Churches Interested in Junior Work. — 
The union lookout committee can do much to interest 
pastors and churches in forming Junior societies and 
maintaining them when formed. Accounts of the 
work of the best Junior societies may be prepared and 
sent to the pastors and church officers. An exhibit of 
Junior work may be arranged for the ministers' meet- 
ings. Calls may be made upon the pastors to explain 
Junior work and answer questions. The Junior super- 
intendent should have a place ex officio upon the church 
governing board, and the church should receive regular 
reports from her, and should support her work and see 
that it is kept up as steadily and faithfully as it cares 
for the work of the Sunday school. 

A Junior Union Literature Agency. — The Junior 
union will have a committee, called perhaps the litera- 
ture committee, whose special work it will be to keep 
on hand samples of all the United Society's helps for 
Junior workers and take orders for them. These helps 
will include the books and pamphlets of methods, the 
various cards, pins, mottoes, flags — everything, in fact, 
which the Junior workers need to carry on their work. 
The latest material will be on exhibition always at the 
superintendents' conferences. Be sure to include in 
this work the introduction of The Junior Christian 
Endeavor World and getting up clubs for it in every 
Junior society. 



WORK FOR JUNIORS AND INTERMEDIATES 201 

Superintendents' Round Robins. — The superintend- 
ents may be interested in writing out their experiences 
and reading the written experiences of others. Many 
will take part in this written work who are too retir- 
ing to take part freely in conferences. The letters will 
be bunched and sent to the superintendents in regular 
succession. As the round robin conies to each superin- 
tendent she will read the letters, remove her own letter 
from the bundle and substitute a new one, then send 
the letters along to the superintendent next on the list. 

Mothers' Societies. — A fine work for the Junior look- 
out committee is the formation of mothers' societies of 
Christian Endeavor. Few churches have any mothers' 
meetings, and yet no type of religious gathering is 
more likely to be helpful. The monthly meeting of 
the Mothers' Society of Christian Endeavor has for its 
purpose to pray for the children of the mothers there 
gathered and to talk about their welfare. Talks will 
be given by the wisest persons available, and these will 
be followed by free questions and answers. The United 
Society has a ten-cent pamphlet giving full plans for 
mothers' societies, with a large number of programmes 
for their meetings. Such societies, of course, would be 
of the greatest assistance to the Junior superintendents 
and to the Junior societies. 

Juniors in the Meetings of the Older Union. — The 
older societies will be led to take a greater interest in 
the work for the children if the Juniors are brought 
occasionally to the meetings of the older union and 
given some part in the programme. They may offer a 
series of sentence prayers, they may sing some songs 
by themselves, they may give Little reports of their so- 



202 UNION WOEK 

ciety work, they may present some exercise that will 
greatly please the audience. By all this the Juniors 
will be made interested in the older union, so that they 
will enter its work when they grow old enough for it. 

The Public Meetings of the Junior Union. — The 
Juniors will have mass meetings of their own, not so 
often as the older union, but at least once a year. At 
the mass meeting of the Junior union there will be a 
talk by some one especially good at talking to children 
— best, a talk illustrated in some way. The Juniors 
themselves, however, will contribute the greater part of 
the programme — songs, recitations, exercises of many 
kinds. Each superintendent may contribute " the best 
thing her society has done during the past months ; it 
may be some missionary exercise or some Bible drill or 
some unusual song. The societies will take especial in- 
terest in a programme chiefly made up of child speakers. 

A Junior Union Chorus.— The union will have a 
music committee, which will not only try to stimulate 
the music of the Junior societies but will build up a 
large chorus of the Juniors themselves, the best singers 
in all the societies. This chorus will be carefully 
drilled, and will be brought into the meetings of the 
older union to add to the programme. Of course all 
this training will help the music in the Junior societies. 

Junior Union Ministries.— Many kinds of work in 
which Juniors engage need co-operation for their great- 
est effectiveness, and this co-operation can be arranged 
by the Junior union. For instance, the societies can take 
turns singing at the hospitals, they can unite in the work 
of giving Christmas presents to prisoners and to the 



WORK FOR JUNIORS AND INTERMEDIATES 203 

children of the poor, and they can join in giving coun- 
try weeks to poor children, especially if the union is in 
a country town. 

Junior Union Study Classes. — Once a year the Junior 
superintendents may meet under an experienced leader 
for the study of some book on child training, or for 
Bible study, or for the study of civics, or for the study 
of one of the books in the Junior missionary series. 
Whatever the study is, it should be one that con- 
tributes directly to the work the superintendents are 
doing. 

The Junior Union at Work for Temperance. — Some 
towns have made good use of the children in arousing 
temperance sentiment at election times, and Junior 
Endeavorers have done much to win temperance vic- 
tories at the polls. The children can form a very ef- 
fective temperance procession, carrying banners that 
cannot fail to move the voters. They can distribute 
temperance appeals at the doors of the homes. They 
can help in a poster campaign. They can form a chorus 
for the singing of temperance songs at mass meetings. 
All of this work is far better done under union manage- 
ment than when left to the separate societies. 

Intermediate Societies and the Union. — All that has 
been said about Junior societies and the union of Young 
People's societies applies as well to Intermediate so- 
cieties. The union will have an Intermediate superin- 
tendent, who will stimulate the Intermediate societies 
already existing and especially will see to the forma- 
tion of new societies. Many fine societies have been 
formed in high schools, and boys and girls of that age 



204 UNION WORK 

are the "best Intermediate material. As these new so- 
cieties increase, an Intermediate union may be formed 
along the same lines as the older union and the Junior 
union. Conferences of Intermediate superintendents 
will be held, and the Intermediates, on account of their 
greater age, will be of even more assistance to the 
older union than the Juniors can be. The Inter- 
mediates come into the Christian Endeavor work at an 
age when the young people are developing very fast, 
and are likely to fall out of religious activities if they 
are not looked after with especial care. Most churches 
that can support a Young People's society and a Junior 
society can have also with great profit an Intermediate 
society. The boys and girls of high-school age are 
much better if in Intermediate societies than in their 
Junior or Young People's societies, and are much more 
likely to develop into strong workers. Our unions 
should not fail to push the Intermediate work. Few 
enterprises will be more profitable. 

The Union Junior Superintendent.— Where a Junior 
union is not formed, the Junior superintendent of the 
union will try to do all that might be accomplished by 
the Junior union if it existed, all the while looking 
ahead to the time when a Junior union may be possible. 
The Junior superintendent of the union will visit the 
Junior societies, making friends of the superintendents, 
learning their successes, helping them out of their dif- 
ficulties, talking briefly and inspiringly to the Juniors, 
and always leaving the work stronger than she found 
it. Once a month, if possible, she will conduct a 
Junior superintendents' conference. She will bring the 
Juniors together in bright union meetings, even if there 
is no Junior union. She will pick out the brightest of 



WORK FOR JUNIORS AND INTERMEDIATES 205 

the superintendents to be her assistant and in time her 
successor. And all of this applies precisely to the 
Intermediate superintendent when this officer is ap- 
pointed. 

The State Junior and Intermediate Superintendents. 
—These officers do for the Junior and Intermediate 
work at large what the local Junior and Intermediate 
union superintendents do for the work locally. They 
promote the appointment of Junior and Intermediate 
superintendents in the unions of the State, and the 
forming of Junior and Intermediate local unions. 
They organize campaigns for the forming of new Junior 
and Intermediate societies. They spread broadcast in- 
formation about new methods of work. They corre- 
spond with the workers, answering questions, giving 
advice, and learning all the best ways of working. 
They make a collection of illustrative objects and of 
helpful books and pamphlets, and exhibit this collection 
in the State conventions. They gather statistics of the 
Junior and Intermediate societies from the local 
leaders. In many other ways suggested by the devel- 
oping work they promote Junior and Intermediate 
Christian Endeavor. 

Juniors and Intermediates at the State Conven- 
tion.— Our State conventions usually give up one 
session to the children, this being in charge of the 
State Junior superintendent working in conjunction 
with the local Junior superintendents. The children 
present some bright exercises which they have pre- 
pared very carefully for months in advance. They 
give songs and recitations, and some good speaker 
addresses them. It is well to make these Junior 



206 UNION WOEK 

sessions educational in relation to Junior work. They 
should exhibit the best methods of work, and in so 
doing they will please the audience as much as by 
presenting some spectacle. One of the most effective 
Junior exercises I have ever seen, for instance, was the 
concert repetition of the parable of the sower, perfectly 
shown by a large body of Juniors speaking in absolute 
unison and with appropriate gestures beautifully made. 
One of the most pleasing exercises ever given at a 
national convention was a presentation of scenes in the 
life of Livingstone made by a set of Junior boys who 
had been studying the life of the great missionary. If 
the Juniors have an orchestra or a chorus, or both, let 
these be utilized in the convention. In short, make the 
Junior hour an exhibit of the best work done by and 
for the children during the year, and it will stimulate 
to still better work all over the State in the year to 
come. 



Class Work on Chapter XIX 

The Leader's Questions 

When is a Junior union needed ? 

What should be the relation between the Junior and 
the Young People's unions ? 

How will the Junior union be organized ? 

How will Junior superintendents' conferences be 
carried on ? 

What is the work of the Junior union lookout com- 
mittee ? 

How is Junior intervisitation arranged ? 

What kinds of Junior outings may be planned ? 

What Junior exhibits may be made ? 



WORK FOE JUNIORS AND INTERMEDIATES 207 

How will Junior committees be formed in the Young 
People's societies ? 

How may pastors and churches be interested in Junior 
work ? 

What is the work of a Junior union literature agency ? 

What are superintendents' round robins ? 

How may mothers' societies be formed ? 

How will Juniors be used in the meetings of the older 
union ? 

What kinds of meetings will the Junior union hold ? 

What is the work of a Junior union chorus ? 

What large work can a Junior union do ? 

When will an Intermediate union be advisable ? 

When will a union Junior or Intermediate superin- 
tendent be appointed ? 

Describe Junior and Intermediate work in a State 
union. 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Our Responsibility for the Children. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that the formation of a Junior union in our 
city would promote Christian Endeavor. 



CHAPTER XX 

THE INTEODUCTION COMMITTEE 

The Work of the Committee. — When Endeavorers 
remove from one town to another they are likely to 
drop out of the society work and even out of church 
work. If they do not at once fall in with active En- 
deavorers, they will be under the necessity of looking 
up a society for themselves, and many are too bashful 
or indifferent to do this. Many also are ignorant re- 
garding the city, and do not know how to obtain for 
themselves an invitation to join a Christian Endeavor 
society. The work of the union introduction committee 
is to make it reasonably certain that Endeavorers re- 
moving from one place to another are heartily wel- 
comed by the Endeavorers of their new home, put at 
once into touch with a society of their denomination, 
and settled promptly in a cordial and helpful church 
home. This is a very important task. Upon the way 
in which it is performed may depend the future welfare 
or failure of a life. 

How Large Should the Committee Be ?— An intro- 
duction committee of a union, even of a State union, 
need not be very large. It may even consist only of a 
single person. This person, however, must be a fine 
organizer, able to set many others at work. Moreover, 
he should be very prompt, for a little delay in acting 
might lose the society's hold upon some one. The 

208 



THE INTBODUCTION COMMITTEE 209 

committee will need to obtain the co-operation of the 
corresponding secretaries in all the societies, and should 
be very enthusiastic and systematic. 



Advertising the Committee.— The success of the 
work of the introduction committee depends largely 
upon the degree in which it makes its work well known. 
Endeavorers everywhere should understand that all the 
unions, including the State union, have these introduc- 
tion committees, eager to learn of the fact when an 
Endeavorer goes from one town to another, and eager 
to welcome the Endeavorer and place him at once in 
the midst of happy church and society surroundings. 
The State paper should often print a list of the intro- 
duction committees of the unions, with their addresses, 
and every corresponding secretary in the State should 
have a printed copy of this list. Advertise the com- 
mittee and its work at the State conventions by speeches 
and reports, and also by printed lists of introduction 
committees and their addresses placed in the hands of 
all the delegates. 

The Committee at Work. — When an Endeavorer 
goes from one place to another the corresponding secre- 
tary will at once communicate the fact to the intro- 
duction committee of the union in the place to which 
the Endeavorer has gone. Of course the president of 
the Endeavorer's society may do this, or the president 
of the union, or any one else, for that matter. If the 
Endeavorer's union has an introduction committee and 
that committee knows of the removal, the one com- 
mittee will notify the other. Do not stand on cere- 
mony ; it is better that several letters should be written 



210 UNION WORK 

than that the matter should be overlooked. If there is 
no introduction committee where the Endeavorer has 
gone, and perhaps no Christian Endeavor union, then 
you may correspond with the State introduction com- 
mittee. Set some part of the Christian Endeavor ma- 
chinery at work on the case. Do not let it go by de- 
fault. 

Next, the introduction committee of the place to 
which the Endeavorer has gone, having learned about 
him, will get to work. The letter will have told the 
Endeavorer's address and his denomination. Immedi- 
ately the introduction committee will write (or tele- 
phone, if possible) to some leading worker in the so- 
ciety of the Endeavorer's denomination nearest to 
where he is living, and will give him the information. 
It will be the duty of this Endeavorer to look up the 
new-comer at once, bid him welcome, and do what he 
can to make him feel at home. Especially, he will tell 
him when the society meets, and invite him to be pres- 
ent and become a member. It will be much the best 
if the Endeavorer calls upon his new friend at the time 
of the society meeting (having first made the call of 
welcoming), and accompanies him to the meeting place. 
Put yourself in the place of the stranger. Remember 
how lonely he must feel, and how hard it must be for 
him to enter freely into religious work where he knows 
no one or very few. Try to make the transition easy 
for him, and you will win a good worker for your so- 
ciety and prevent his possible lapse into worldliness. 

This having been done, a report will be made to the 
introduction committee, and this committee will report 
to the introduction committee of the union from which 
the Endeavorer came, or to whoever was the first corre- 
spondent. To save a worker to the kingdom of God is 



THE INTRODUCTION COMMITTEE 211 

as great a work as to gain one. The business of our 
introduction committee is to save workers. 

Boarding-House Bureaus. — The union introduction 
committee may run a boarding-house bureau, or this 
may become a cognate branch of the union work. 
Many Endeavorers go to a city with only a vague idea 
of where to find a safe and pleasant boarding-place. 
This important matter is decided for them largely by 
chance. They are likely to fall in with careless com- 
panions, and their whole lives may be ruined. Great 
good will be done if it becomes known that the intro- 
duction department of the Christian Endeavor union is 
in touch with safe places for room and board, and will 
introduce new-comers to these as well as to the churches 
and societies. If it is known that such a list of board- 
ing-places is kept, applications for inclusion in the list 
will soon begin to come in. Each place should be in- 
vestigated before it is accepted, and recommendations 
of some Christian Endeavorers well known to the in- 
troduction committee should be obtained in every case. 

An Employment Bureau. — No union introduction 
committee can long do this work without meeting the 
necessity for becoming an employment bureau as well, 
though, of course, only on a very modest scale. Cases 
w r ill be sure to arise of Endeavorers disappointed in ob- 
taining the work which they expected to find. Some- 
times these are cases of real need, and the introduction 
committee will be compelled by the ordinary principles 
of Christian brotherhood to come to the rescue. 

Always, moreover, there is need in a city of finding 
work for those who are out of work, often through no 
fault of their own. If the introduction committee can 



212 UNION WOKK 

introduce a willing worker to a job for which he is 
suited, it will surely be doing the King's business. 
This is work which the churches have not taken up or 
our unions, at least not on any extended scale, and it is 
work greatly needing to be done. To do it the intro- 
duction committee will need a knowledge of large em- 
ployers of labor of many different kinds, and enough 
acquaintance with them to win attention to the com- 
mittee's recommendation. This the committee can gain 
by the use of some friend or acquaintance, if it does not 
itself know the business man, for our Christian En- 
deavor unions have wide outreaches. Often the task 
of finding work for another is about the hardest kind 
of work imaginable, but the accomplishment of it will 
bring to the committee the warm approval of the 
Master Workman. 

Friends, Anyway. — Whatever service the introduc- 
tion committee can perform for the new-comer, it can 
perform the greatest of all services, the bestowal of 
friendship. That is what the stranger wants when he 
finds himself lonely in a new place. He wants some 
one that takes an interest in him, some one with whom 
he can discuss his plans, some one to whom he can re- 
late his successes or his failures. You can add to his 
successes or help him out of his failures ; but even if 
you could not, you can rejoice as he rejoices and weep 
as he weeps. In all of this let the introduction com- 
mittee remember that it is winning the gratitude of 
Him who at the last day will remember to say, " I was 
a stranger, and ye took me in." 



THE INTRODUCTION COMMITTEE 213 



Class Work on Chapter XX 

The Leader's Questions 
What is the work of the introduction committee ? 
How large should the committee be ? 
How will the committee be advertised ? 
What methods will the committee use ? 
How will a boarding-house bureau be conducted ? 
How will an employment bureau be conducted ? 
How will the committee show its friendship for the 
strangers ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Entertaining Angels Unawares. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should appoint an introduction 
committee. 



CHAPTER XXI 

UNION WORK FOR PRISONERS 

Why Union Work for Prisoners ? — A single society 
can do fine work for prisoners, and many societies have 
done it ; but the work in any large prison is so great as 
to require all the societies of the union to do it in the 
best way. If many workers are combined, the work 
does not press too heavily upon any ; but if only few 
undertake it, the overwhelming demands upon their 
time and sympathy and strength will be too much for 
them. Moreover, the needs of the prisoners are so 
many that the varied resources of different societies 
will be needed in the work. 

The Organizing of the Work. — No work of any kind 
will be done till some one or some set of persons is 
made responsible for it. The union that decides to 
take up work for prisoners will appoint a prison com- 
mittee, and will place at its head some one who is full 
of zeal for this work. The committee may well have 
upon it some member from each society, so as to inter- 
est every society in the work and obtain help from all. 
This member from each society may well form in his 
society a prison committee to work in connection with 
the union prison committee. 

Starting the Work. — You will not undertake work 
for prisoners without obtaining first of all the hearty 
approval of the pastoral counsellor of the union, and 
therefore presumably of all the pastors of the union. 

214 



UNION WOEK FOE PEISONEES 215 

In the second place, you will consult the chaplain of 
the prison, within whose special field the prison com- 
mittee will work. To gain his consent you will tell 
him something of what has been done in other prisons, 
and the fine results of the work there as reported from 
time to time in The Christian Endeavor World. You 
will also assure the chaplain that your only purpose is 
to work under his direction and to assist him in his 
heavy task. You will tell him just what you have in 
mind to do as suggested in the paragraphs below. You 
will declare that you wish to begin with one undertak- 
ing and see how it works out, and then go on slowly 
and surely from this undertaking to another till your 
whole programme is in operation, or at least as much 
of it as may prove to be wise. Then, having obtained 
the chaplain's cordial approval, you will go with him 
to the warden ; and you may be sure that your joint 
application will meet with success. In talking with 
the warden it will be well to quote the favorable opin- 
ion of some prison warden who has had experience of 
Christian Endeavor work for prisoners. 

Become Acquainted. — Having obtained this consent 
of the authorities, the prison committee will take the 
first step in their great enterprise, which is to become 
acquainted with some of the prisoners — as many of 
them as possible. You can do this best if you ap- 
proach them with some little gift, such as an interest- 
ing magazine or paper or book, or some flowering 
plant, if that is permitted, or some card bearing a 
beautiful and helpful picture and motto. This little 
gift gives an opening for conversation. If it is some- 
thing to read, you can come again and ask how the 
prisoner has enjoyed it. It should be something you 



216 UNION WOEK 

yourself have read, so that you can discuss it with him. 
It need not be anything religious, perhaps it would bet- 
ter not be at first ; all you want at this stage is to be- 
come acquainted, to show that you are the friend of the 
prisoners and really want to help them. Of course in 
all this work the young men of the societies will visit 
the men prisoners and the young women of the socie- 
ties will visit the women prisoners. Also, you will not 
set the younger Endeavorers to doing such work, but only 
the most mature in years, or, at any rate, in character. 

The First Meeting.— Having become friends with 
the prisoners, or at least with many of them, the prison 
committee will get the consent of the chaplain and 
warden for the next step, which will be to hold in the 
prison a Christian Endeavor prayer meeting. You will 
talk this up beforehand among your prison friends, ex- 
plaining the purpose of Christian Endeavor and the 
nature of the Christian Endeavor prayer meeting. 
Give a broad general invitation for all the inmates of 
the prison to attend, but do not have attendance made 
compulsory. Get a large number of the most earnest 
speakers and workers among the societies to come to 
this meeting prepared to take part. Use some topic 
that will be of interest and helpfulness to the prisoners, 
whether it is the regular Christian Endeavor topic or 
not. Carry on the meeting like an ordinary prayer 
meeting, with a large number of brief, warm, personal 
testimonies from all the Endeavorers present, with 
much bright singing in which the prisoners will join, 
and with many prayers. Do not ask the prisoners to 
take part ; they are there only to see what a Christian 
Endeavor prayer meeting is like. At the close of the 
meeting the leader or the chairman of the prison com- 



UNION WOEK FOR PRISONERS 217 

niittee will explain what Christian Endeavor is, will 
read the pledge, and will state that a Christian En- 
deavor society will be formed in the prison. Invite 
questions about the society from the prisoners, and an- 
swer them with the help and co-operation of the chap- 
lain and warden, who will, of course, be prominent in 
the meeting. Then say that during the w T eek you will 
call upon the prisoners one by one to talk over the mat- 
ter and invite them to join. You will need the entire 
force of the committee to do this, spending consider- 
able time in the prison ; but this is a most critical 
period of the undertaking, and you will not begin till 
you can work out the plan with thoroughness. 

The Prison Christian Endeavor Society.— Even if 
only a few prisoners give in their allegiance to the society 
at first, yet you will form the organization, sure that in 
time it will grow. Usually the prisoners are quite 
eager for it, as affording a break in the monotony 
of their lives ; and for this reason you will need to be 
very strict in your explanation of the pledge, and try 
to weed out those that do not really want to get good 
from the society. At the same time you will bear in 
mind that if the greater part of the members are in 
earnest, they will be able to influence for good a 
minoi^ity that may not enter the society with the right 
motives. 

The society will meet regularly once a week. It 
will take the usual Christian Endeavor topics, except 
when they are not so well fitted to the needs of the 
prisoners as others that may be substituted. Some of 
the prison committee will always be present at the 
meeting, and, if possible, the entire committee. They 
will take part just as the prisoners do, but will throw 



218 UNION WORK 

the entire management of the society into the hands of 
the prisoners — all the offices and committees. The 
prison committee will merely act as advisers. The en- 
largement of the society will be done mainly by the 
prison committee, who will have far better chances to 
talk it up among the prisoners than the lookout com- 
mittee of the prison society is likely to have. 

Work for the Prison Endeavorers.— The members of 
the prison committee will soon come to know the prison 
Endeavorers very intimately. They will talk over with 
them the work of the society, and will aid them with it. 
They will give them books and pamphlets on Christian 
Endeavor work, on the Quiet Hour, on the Bible, and 
whatever else will direct them in their work and in- 
spire them in it. Especially, the prison committee will 
learn the chief trouble in the life of each of the prison 
Endeavorers, and will try to remove it. Is it worry 
about his family ? You will do what you can to care 
for that family and relieve the prisoner's mind. Is it 
remorse for his past deeds ? You will help him to 
right all the wrongs that can be righted, and you will 
lead him along the way of godly repentance. Is it 
doubt of God's goodness, of the salvation that Christ 
offers ? You will work with Bible-born wisdom to 
show God's love and bring them to know Christ as 
their Saviour. In all this work you will soon need the 
help of your pastors and of the adult Christians in your 
churches. Before long you will see that this work will 
do more for you in the development of your powers 
even than it will do for the prisoners. 

The Work of the Prison Endeavorers. — The prison 
committee will not do anything for the prison En- 



UKION WOEK FOE PEISONEES 219 

deavorers that it can get the prison Endeavor ers to do 
for themselves, nor anything for the other prisoners 
that it can lead the prison Endeavorers to do for them. 
Yon will find it easy, for instance, to interest the prison 
Endeavorers in the great work of missions, with its 
splendid outreach and its abounding heroism. Out of 
their very meagre resources they will be eager to give 
for the support of the gospel. They will be greatly 
pleased thus to reach out, beyond the narrow bounds of 
the prison, over the wide world. The study of Chris- 
tian citizenship will appeal to them, and you will find 
many patriots among them. Bible-study will become a 
passion to many of them, and they will pore over the 
blessed Book by the hour, bringing forth some glorious 
truths. As far as opportunity is given them to talk 
with the other prisoners, they will be outspoken in 
work for their salvation. In all this enterprise you will 
have great faith in the possibilities of the prisoners. 
You will come to realize that many of them have been 
quite as much unfortunate as sinful, suffering from their 
own misdeeds, of course, but also from the sins of their 
parents and of society. You will cease to scorn them 
and begin to pity them, trust their inherent manhood, 
and by your trust you will draw out all their hidden 
possibilities of good. And nothing will help the 
prisoner more than getting him to help some one else 
in the prison and some great cause outside of the prison. 

A Word of Warning. — The prison committee must 
remember that they are dealing with shrewd men, sin- 
ful men, men quick to seize upon every chance for 
themselves. Some of them will try to " work " the 
prison committee, and will enter the Christian Endeavor 
society in the hope of gaining special privileges in the 



220 UNION WOEK 

prison and help after they leave prison. At every step 
the committee will consult with the chaplain and the 
warden, checking up their impressions with the wider 
experiences of those officers, learning which of the 
prisoners are to be trusted and which are probably not 
sincere and are to be made to prove themselves in 
ways that are more genuine than mere words. 

Special Seasons in the Prison. — Christmas and 
Thanksgiving, the great home festivals, give the prison 
committee a fine chance with the prisoners, many of 
whom are hungry for home. The Endeavorers of all 
the societies will be enlisted in the work of providing 
Christmas cards or Thanksgiving cards with beautifully 
printed messages, or personal letters for the prisoners. 
At Easter flowers may be sent to all the prisoners. On 
the Fourth of July patriotic messages may be sent 
them, and each may receive an American flag. ]S r ew 
Year's day gives a fine chance for pleas for the turning 
over of a new leaf. All of these seasons will be utilized 
by the prison committee and the co-operating En- 
deavorers. 

When the Prisoners Are Discharged.— The most 
critical time in all work for prisoners is the time of their 
discharge. They go out into a world where everything 
is fearfully hard for them. They may have been 
soundly converted in the prison and may have hearts 
set upon a Christian life, but they are distrusted on all 
hands. They want to be industrious and to earn an 
honest living, but they find most doors, sometimes all 
doors, closed against them. At this stage the prison 
committee must become an employment bureau. It 
will not only sympathize with the discharged prisoners 



UNION WOEK FOE PEISONEES 221 

and cheer them in their up-hill fight, but it will give 
them the practical help that they so greatly need. It 
will tell the Christian employers about the great need 
of the prisoners, and will appeal to them to give them 
work. Here the pastors will be of the greatest assist- 
ance, backing up the appeals of the prison committee 
with their own earnest recommendations. 

Then, when work is obtained for the discharged 
prisoners, — any honest work, however humble, — the 
Endeavorers will stand by them, giving them the 
brotherly fellowship that will support them against 
the sneers, the suspicion, and the scorn that will make 
them outlaws among their fellow workers. A man 
can face the world if he has a friend, and the prison 
committee will try in each case to furnish that friend. 

Of course, if a Prisoners' Aid society operates in your 
city, the prison committee will merely co-operate with 
it in its labors for discharged prisoners. 

The work described in this chapter is the most ardu- 
ous that a Christian can take up, but hundreds of En- 
deavorers have taken it up and have achieved glorious 
successes. What they have done you can do, and in it 
all you will have the glad approval and omnipotent aid 
of Him who will say at the last day to His obedient 
disciples, " I was in prison and ye came unto me." 



Class Work on Chapter XXI 

The Leaders Questions 
Why should Christian Endeavor unions work for 

prisoners ? 
How is prison work organized? 
How is the work started ? 



222 UNION WORK 

How become acquainted with the prisoners ? 

How conduct the opening Christian Endeavor meeting ? 

How form the prison Christian Endeavor society ? 

What work will the outside Endeavorers do for the 
prisoners ? 

What work will the prison society do for the prisoners ? 

How will the Endeavorers observe special seasons in 
the prison ? 

What will the outside Endeavorers do to help dis- 
charged prisoners ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
" In Prison, and Ye Came unto Me." 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should undertake definite 
work for prisoners. 



CHAPTER XXII 

TJXIOX WOKK FOE HOSPITALS 

Opportunities for the Work. — Most communities 
now, especially in the more thickly settled portions of 
the country, have hospitals of one kind or another. In 
these institutions there is a great opportunity for re- 
ligious work, but little work of the kind is done. Pas- 
tors visit the members of their own churches, but 
hesitate to seek out the members of other churches lest 
they appear to intrude. In the great public hospitals 
there is often the greatest religious destitution. Here 
is just the opportunity for an interdenominational re- 
ligious organization like the Christian Endeavor union. 
It is a work too large for any one society, and requires 
the co-operation which is the heart of our union activity. 
Every union which has a hospital within its bounds 
should appoint a hospital committee, and set it to work 
uniting the societies for this blessed service. 

The Hospital Committee. — The chairman of this 
committee should be some one with an earnest evan- 
gelistic spirit, who will enter into the work with a 
deep purpose to be spiritually helpful to these souls 
in sore trouble. He must also be a good executive, 
able to mass and direct the energies of many societies. 
Upon his committee should be some of musical ability, 
able to organize the musical talents of the societies for 
the hospital work ; others of literary tendency, who 
will see to the papers, magazines, books ; others of 

223 



224 UNION WORK 

practical nature, who will get together gifts of jellies 
arid other good things to eat and drink ; and still 
others who will be helpful in talking to the sick, cheer- 
ing them up and pointing them to the Good Physician. 
The committee should not be so large as to be un- 
wieldy — ten or twelve would be large enough, — but it 
should represent as well as possible the different sec- 
tions of the city. 

The Approval of the Authorities.— The first step in 
the work is, of course, to obtain the consent and hearty 
approval of the hospital authorities. Go right to the 
head of the hospital and explain fully what you hope 
to do. Take with you some mutual friend, if you are 
not known to the hospital head. Get some well-known 
and honored minister to go with you and emphasize 
your plea. Here is a place for the pastoral counsellor 
of the union. The hospital authorities will be reluctant 
to introduce anything that might be a disturbing ele- 
ment. You will need to be very modest in your re- 
quests at first. Ask only for a trial, the result to be 
carefully watched and official decision to be based upon 
the results obtained. Promise to be governed strictly 
by the directions of the authorities as to the time and 
manner of your work. Agree to use in the work only 
the most experienced and reliable of the Endeavorers. 
Present testimonies from other hospitals where a similar 
work has been found valuable. Do not be discouraged 
if at first you fail to get permission ; but continue your 
appeal for a trial, and you will succeed at last. 

The Ministry of Song. — Perhaps the first work that 
may be done in hospitals is singing in the wards. For 



UNION WOEK FOE HOSPITALS 225 

this purpose you will train a company of Endeavorers 
so that they can sing without accompaniment, speaking 
the words very distinctly and singing with good ex- 
pression. They should be very familiar with the words. 
You will, of course, avoid sorrowful songs, such as 
songs about death, and you will choose the brightest, 
happiest, most cheerful songs you can find. Nothing 
is better for this purpose than the grand old hymns of 
the church, such as " Jesus, lover of my soul," " Kock 
of Ages," and " Nearer, my God, to Thee." Give the 
patients in the ward a chance to ask for their favorite 
hymns. Notice what songs they ask to have repeated, 
and learn from these requests what kinds of songs reach 
their hearts. Make this a ministry of good cheer and 
of uplift, of comfort and of hope. 

Different societies may furnish the singers for dif- 
ferent days of the week, if you are permitted to sing 
every day. Probably you will be allowed to sing only 
once a week, and in that case the societies will take 
turns. It may be best to form a company of hospital 
singers from the entire union. 

Sing your songs not loudly, and yet brightly and 
with confidence. Sing with smiles on your faces and 
with joy in your voices. Pack the songs full of health 
as you sing them. The sick ones will soon come to 
look forward eagerly to your little concert, and the 
doctors and nurses will testify to the good you are 
doing. 

The Ministry of Papers and Books. — Another work 
with which the hospital committee may well begin is 
that of gathering good reading matter for the sick folks, 
and taking it to them with cheery words of good will. 
Care should be exercised in selecting the books, maga- 



226 UNION WOEK 

zines, and papers that are given out. See that what- 
ever is presented is of the highest and purest character. 
See that the subjects treated are bright and hopeful, 
and that the results of the reading cannot be anything 
but good. There are certain papers and magazines and 
the books by certain writers that you can give out 
without examination, for they are sure to be helpful, 
but others you must read thoroughly yourself before 
you will be safe in distributing them. Divide among 
your committee this work of reading, and also the 
work of gathering the reading matter from the so- 
cieties. The literature committees of the different 
societies will collect the reading matter, and a regular 
day in each month should be fixed on which the read- 
ing matter shall be brought to the headquarters of the 
committee. If any society fails to contribute, the 
hospital committee will investigate the omission. 

It will be well to stamp each piece of reading matter : 
" Presented with the love and good wishes of the Hos- 
pital Committee of the Christian Endeavor Union." 
This stamp will lead to conversation about the union 
and its object, and it Avill be easy to turn such con- 
versation to the subject of personal religion. Besides, 
you will have much religious matter in what you dis- 
tribute ; and you will have opportunities to talk with 
the patients about it, if you are wise and friendly. 

The societies may be induced to paste many helpful 
clippings upon light sheets of cardboard easily handled 
by the invalids. Some of them may be pasted upon 
fans. One set of cards will be filled with bright jokes, 
another with interesting pictures for the little ones, 
others with poems, others with stories, others with facts 
about natural history, others with brief and pointed 
essays. The Juniors may make these for the children 



UNION WORK FOR HOSPITALS 227 

in the hospitals, while the older Endeavorers will make 
thein for the adults. 

The Ministry of the Spoken Word.— It is easy for 
the friendly to be helpful to the sick, but very hard for 
those that are self-centred. The head of the committee 
will know who are sympathetic among his committee, 
who are forgetful of self and able to put themselves 
into the places of others. Without the gift of imagina- 
tion one can do far more harm than good in talking to 
the sick. Go to them with a bright smile, with a 
manly or womanly fellowship, with interesting news of 
the world, and, if the occasion is fitting, with uplifting 
thoughts of God and the spiritual life, and you will 
have no difficulty in making friends. Just a whiff of 
talk, for you will not be allowed to stay long. ^Nothing 
that could possibly be depressing. Only a bit of bright- 
ness, of jollity, of courage. It is very easy to give this 
when you get the knack of it. It is merely a little 
outgoing of the Christian life ; but it w T ill mean every- 
thing to your sick friend, and, though you will not 
realize it, it will mean everything to you. 

Of course you will be happy if the conversation can 
turn easily and naturally to the one great theme of 
religion, but do not worry if it does not. You are 
known as a Christian Endeavorer. Your purpose in 
going to the hospital is known. Your helpfulness and 
sympathy will be standing arguments for your religion, 
even if you do not say a word. Remember, above all 
things, that the sick room is no place for debate. If 
the sick man is an unbeliever, you must set him to 
thinking all you can, but you must not set him to 
arguing. That would make him worse physically, and 
would not better him spiritually. Just let Jesus shine 



228 UNION WOBK 

out of your eyes and ring in your voice and glow in 
your loving deeds. These are the proofs of Chris- 
tianity that will at last break down his prejudice and 
remove his misunderstandings. 

Gifts to the Sick.— The nurses will tell you what you 
may carry to the sick and what you may not bring. 
Sometimes gifts of flowers will be allowed, and often 
they will not be permitted. When they can be en- 
joyed by the patient no gift is more helpful, especially 
if the sick one has no friend to give him flowers. Just 
a few flowers, all of one kind, are better than a big, 
confused bouquet. The societies will be led to bring 
flowers from their home gardens at certain times each 
week, and different members of the committee will be 
delegated to take them to the hospitals. Many churches 
will be glad to have the pulpit flowers used in this way, 
especially if there are no sick of the congregation to 
whom to send them. Attach to each set of flowers a 
card on w T hich is printed the statement that they are 
the gift of the hospital committee of the Christian En- 
deavor union, and add a loving message in handwriting. 

At Holiday Times.— It is at Thanksgiving and 
Christmas that the poor sick people in the hospitals, 
especially those without friends, feel their sorrows the 
most, and it is then that the hospital committee should 
be most active. Show the societies what a chance they 
have of doing blessed work for the Master and of 
sharing their good things with others. Little presents 
for the inmates of the hospitals, if only a Christmas 
card apiece, or a tender written greeting, will serve to 
brighten the day and show them that they are not for- 
gotten. Easter will be remembered in some way, and 
New Year's Day and Mothers' Day. 



UXION WOEK FOE HOSPITALS 229 

Do Not Forget the Nurses.— The hospital committee 
will be working for the patients if now and then it re- 
members the nurses, and at the same time it will be 
cheering and winning a very noble set of workers. 
Many of the nurses are far from home and friends and 
many are quite alone in the world. Their tasks are 
very heavy and arduous, and any bit of cheer you can 
bring into their lives will be valued more than you can 
realize. The earnest workers on the committee will 
come to know the nurses very soon, and will form per- 
sonal friendships among them that will be exceedingly 
helpful to both parties. Eemember that nurses are 
kept from religious privileges even more than phy- 
sicians, and the touch with vital religion that you can 
give them will be just what they need to keep their 
faith alive and active. 

The Contagious Wards. — There will be parts of the 
hospital to which you will not be admitted — the con- 
tagious wards, and the bedsides of those on the danger 
list. But you will not forget these who so especially 
need your help. If you cannot go to them yourself, 
you can send them flowers and written messages of 
loving sympathy. Find out about them from the 
nurses as far as you can, and add to your messages a 
personal touch whenever it is possible. 

Helping the Convalescents. — As the patients get 
ready to leave the hospital there is much that the com- 
mittee can do. The patients may be worrying about 
the condition of affairs at home, and the Endeavorers 
can help remove their worries. This of itself will 
often make all the difference between continued sick- 
ness and recovery. If the patients are poor, those of 
the committee that have automobiles or can obtain 



230 UNION WOEK 

them from friends may arrange to take them home in 
this easy way. The friendships formed in the hospital 
should not be allowed to drop. The visits should be 
continued till the recovery is complete. The influence 
obtained should be exerted toward their joining the 
church, if they are not already members. They should 
be helped toward work, if they need work. In short, 
these hospital ministries are only the beginning in 
many cases of a warm, practical friendship that will 
cause the erstwhile sick ones to bless the day that 
brought them to the hospital. 



Class Work on Chapter XXII 

The Leader 's Questions 
When should an Endeavor union do hospital work ? 
How will the hospital committee be made up ? 
How will the approval of the hospital authorities be 

gained ? 
"What use of song will the committee make ? 
How will the committee use papers and books ? 
How will the committee workers talk to the patients ? 
What gifts will the committee make to the sick ? 
How will the committee use holiday seasons in its 

work ? 
What will the committee do for the nurses ? 
What will the committee do for the contagious wards ? 
How will the committee help the convalescents ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
" Sick, and Ye Visited Me." 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should organize work for the sick. 



CHAPTEE XXIII 

OTHEE WOEK THAT UNIONS MAY DO 

A Versatile Organization. — A Christian Endeavor 
union, which is to train young people for Christian 
work on a large scale, may undertake any kind of 
Christian work that is suitable for young people and 
that can be done by a union better than by the socie- 
ties acting separately. This being the case, the scope 
of our unions is indefinite, and the work they may un- 
dertake varies greatly with the different circumstances 
of the unions and the varying abilities of the anion 
leaders. Some of the more common and more im- 
portant kinds of work have been described in the fore- 
going chapters. It remains to speak more briefly of a 
number of co-operative enterprises which unions carry 
on less frequently, but which they may well take up 
wherever there is a good opportunity. 

Work for Foreigners. — If many foreign-born citizens 
are living in the city or region covered by the union, 
some work for them may well be organized as part of 
our Christian Endeavor training. A task well suited 
to the powers of young people is the establishing and 
maintaining of night schools for the teaching of Eng- 
lish to these foreigners. They are all eager to learn 
English as a means of advancement in this country, 
and will gladly come to a free school for that pur- 
pose. There are simple text-books for the teaching of 
English that use many of the languages of the for- 

231 



232 UNION WORK 

eigners in America, but much progress may be made 
by bright teachers without any text-book, but merely 
with the use of objects and talk about them. The 
main purpose of this work is, of course^ to get close to 
the foreigners and give them what is worth infinitely 
more to them than the English language, a knowledge 
of the Saviour of the world. Acquaintance with these 
foreigners will soon show us many ways in which we 
can give them practical help in their daily living, and 
— as you will soon discover — they will be helping you 
quite as much as you are helping them. 

Work for Sailors. — Many unions situated on the sea- 
shore, on the great lakes, and even on the large rivers, 
keep up gospel meetings for the sailors, visiting the 
ships regularly for that purpose, sometimes in launches 
owned by the union. Systematic work is also done in 
the furnishing of good reading matter. Acquaintances 
are made among the sailors, and earnest Christian 
letters follow them around the world. They are in- 
vited to attend the church services on shore, and are 
given a cordial welcome in the Christian Endeavor 
prayer meetings and socials. Sometimes Christian En- 
deavor societies are formed on board ship, and the union 
forms special auxiliary Christian Endeavor societies of 
the shore workers for the sailors. 

Work for the Police. — This consists in the holding of 
gospel meetings at police stations, the furnishing of 
helpful reading matter to the stations, and sometimes 
the forming of regular Christian Endeavor societies 
among the members of " the force." Policemen are 
largely debarred by their work from church privileges, 
and will welcome the frank and manly Christian fel- 



OTHEE WOEK THAT UNIONS MAY DO 233 

lowship of the Endeavorers. Of course this work 
should be inaugurated by some Christian policeman, 
and carried on under the close supervision of the police 
authorities. And of course, also, it is a work for the 
young men of the societies pre-eminently. 

Work in Schools. — Hundreds of thousands of boys 
and girls attending our public schools are without any 
religious influence whatever. They come from homes 
that are careless or infidel or grossly ignorant. They 
can be reached through the public school and the ac- 
quaintances so easily formed there, and the Christian 
Endeavorers are the ones to do it. Christian Endeavor 
societies formed among public-school pupils according 
to the grades, especially in the older grades of the 
grammar schools and in the high schools, have met 
with decided success. The movement will gain in 
force and dignity if it is originated and carried on by 
the Christian Endeavor union, rather than by single 
societies. Leaders among the pupils should be ap- 
proached, and should be made leaders in the work. If 
the school authorities consent, the meetings should be 
held in the school buildings themselves ; otherwise in 
some private house or in some church. 

Work for the Poor. — If the city has a group of as- 
sociated charities, they will welcome the aid of the 
Endeavorers as visitors among the poor and as solicit- 
ors of money and supplies for them. If there are no 
organized charities in the city, there is double need for 
such charitable work as the Christian Endeavor union 
may do. Under the guidance of wise and experienced 
pastors the young men and young women of our so- 
cieties may be a great blessing to many poor families, 



234 UNION WOEK 

calling upon them in a friendly way and without any 
sign of patronizing them, learning their character and 
needs, and aiding them as best they can with their own 
means and what they can obtain from their church 
organizations and friends. There is no better aid, 
usually, than to find occupation for those able to 
work ; and if the union can form a free employment 
agency, it will set many a family on the road to self- 
respect and support. 



Class Work on Chapter XXIII 

The Leaders Questions 
What work may Christian Endeavor unions do for 

foreigners ? 
How may our unions aid the sailors ? 
What Christian Endeavor work may be done for the 

police ? 
Describe Christian Endeavor work in schools. 
What work may our union do for the poor ? 
What other general work for the community may our 

union undertake ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
Our Union as a Force in the Community. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should undertake some large 
new enterprise for the community. 



CHAPTER XXIV 
UNION COMMITTEE CONFERENCES 

Why Committee Conferences ? — No society commit- 
tee, however bright and enterprising, can go far with- 
out learning the best methods of other committees. If 
the committee relies only upon its own ideas, it will 
run in a rut. One of the chief things the Christian En- 
deavor union does is to organize committee conferences. 
In these conferences workers along the same line from 
all the societies in the union meet and compare notes. 
They inspire one another with fresh zeal, they fill one 
another with new notions, they comfort one another 
with confession of failures, and show one another the 
way out of difficulties. 

In the various chapters of this book dealing with the 
union committees — music, social, missionary, lookout, 
etc. — I have given suggestions for the holding of con- 
ferences of the same kinds of committees in the so- 
cieties ; but the societies have numerous committees 
not suitable for the union, and therefore a general 
chapter on union conferences is necessary, since we 
should have a conference every } r ear, perhaps several 
conferences, for each kind of committee found among 
the societies of the union. 

A Conference Evening. — One of the best plans for at 
least the introductory committee conference is to call 
all the members of all kinds of committees to meet in 

235 



236 UNION WOEK 

some church that has enough rooms so that each com- 
mittee may have a meeting place. First, you will have 
a brief devotional service in the main auditorium of the 
church, with a brisk statement of the purpose of the 
evening. Then you will have the members of the dif- 
ferent committees separate to their rooms, assigning to 
the largest rooms the committees most numerously rep- 
resented in the societies. The committees will spend an 
hour in their conferences. At the opening of each com- 
mittee conference the chairman will appoint some one 
to report the conference for three minutes to the main 
body, when all the committees come together again at 
the close of the hour. These reports will be lively, and 
will simply tell the best things said and the best plans 
proposed. Insist on the cutting out of all non-essentials, 
such as " So many good plans were given in my confer- 
ence that it would take an hour to tell them all," and 
bid the reporters get right down to business with their 
first sentence and show how much they can pack into 
three minutes. Then close the evening with a short 
consecration service, and a social half-hour with light 
refreshments. 

A Conference Committee. — The union conference 
committee will have general oversight of the union 
conferences. It will be the business of this committee 
to see that such conferences are held for all the com- 
mittees represented in the societies of the union. If 
the chairman of the corresponding union committee 
will conduct the conference, the conference committee 
will merely serve as assistant, but will do whatever is 
required, such as seeing to the refreshments and scat- 
tering about among the conferences and making them 
go with a rush. If there is no union committee to take 



TJXION COMMITTEE CONFEKEXCES 237 

the lead, the conference committee will run the confer- 
ence throughout. 

A Table Conference. — If the members in attendance 
on the conference are comparatively few, nothing is 
better than a table conference. The Endeavorers are 
seated at a long table, clear around it, and each with a 
pencil and paper. The leader of the conference sits at 
the centre of the table and talks freely and informally, 
asking questions, inviting questions, and making the 
meeting a general conference or conversation. If the 
meeting can close with light refreshments, there is the 
table all ready ! By using tables you facilitate note- 
taking, and also render the occasion much more fruitful 
of real discussion. 

A Question Conference. — Any conference should 
have some programme, and the best programme is a set 
of questions or topics placed before the Endeavorers on 
the blackboard or a large sheet of paper, or duplicated 
or printed and placed in their hands. The questions 
or topics should be numbered, and the leader will 
probably invite the Endeavorers to call for any number 
they want treated first, and then next. Here are 
some questions on the different leading committees 
such as may be used in these conferences — not a com- 
plete set in any case, but specimen questions to which 
conference leaders will add other topics to meet local 
needs : 

Prayer-Meetin g Com mittee 

1. What is the work of this committee ? 

2. How long in advance should leaders be appointed ? 

3. What is a leaderless meeting ? 

4. What is a committee-led meeting ? 



238 UNION WOEK 

5. How is a dual leadership managed ? 

6. How can we get more prayers in the meeting ? 

7. How can we lead the Endeavorers to do more 

than read verses ? 

8. What are the gains of using questions ? 

9. How long should the prayer-meeting leader take ? 

10. What are the advantages of the pastor's five 

minutes ? 

11. What different ways of conducting the consecra- 

tion meeting have you used ? 

12. How can we make the members more faithful to 

the consecration meeting ? 

13. What special forms of prayer meetings have you 

found helpful ? 

14. How can we avoid long speeches in the meetings ? 

Lookout Committee 

1. What is the work of the lookout committee ? 

2. What is a good way to get persons interested in 

the society ? 

3. How can we make sure that candidates understand 

the pledge ? 

4. Who should join as associate members ? 

5. How can we change associate members into active 

members ? 

6. Who should be honorary members ? 

7. What use shall we make of honorary members ? 

8. How can we keep the pledge before our members ? 

9. How can Ave cause our members to realize their 

responsibilities ? 

10. How can we make the society more efficient ? 

11. When is an Intermediate society needed ? 

12. What is the advantage of a Senior society — one 

for adults ? 

13. How can we get the Endeavorers to take part in 

the midweek prayer meetings of the church ? 

14. How can we make the best use of the consecration 

meeting ? 



10, 



VmOX COMMITTEE CONFEEENCES 239 

Missionary Committee 

1. What should this committee do ? 

2. How can we have interesting missionary meet- 

ings ? 

3. How can we increase the money given for mis- 

sions ? 

4. How can we interest the Endeavorers in mission- 

ary reading ? 

5. How can we get more prayers for missions ? 

6. How can we have a mission-study class ? 

7. What is a good plan for a missionary social ? 

8. How can we give the impulse for missionary serv- 

ice ? 

9. How may we gather and use missionary curios ? 

0. What plan for a missionary meeting have you 

found effective ? 

11. What aid should we give the denominational mis- 

sion boards ? 

12. How can we help city missions ? 

13. Why should we push the Tenth Legion ? 

14. What home-mission work can we do in our town ? 

Social Committee 

1. How may the work of the social committee help 

the society spiritually ? 

2. How often should socials be held ? 

3. How can we get every one present to take part in 

the socials ? 

4. What part should refreshments play in our 

socials ? 

5. What kinds of games are unfit for our socials ? 

6. What is the best social you have lately attended ? 

7. How can our socials elevate the amusement stand- 

ard of the community ? 

8. How often should we hold socials ? 

9. How can we get large numbers to attend our 

socials ? 



240 UNION WORK 

10. How can we make our socials instructive as well 

as interesting ? 

11. How can we get strangers to attend our socials? 

12. How does the social and business-meeting combi- 

nation work ? 

13. What are some good ways of beginning a social ? 

14. What are some good ways of ending a social ? 

Music Committee 

1. Why should a society have a choir or chorus ? 

2. What are the advantages of a society orchestra ? 

3. How can we come to use the whole of our hymn- 

book? 

4. How get the society to sing with expression ? 

5. How get all the members to sing? 

6. How can we improve the singing in our societies ? 

7. How can the singers of our societies help outside 

work ? 

8. How can we interest the Endeavorers in worth- 

while music ? 

9. What use should we make of special music in our 

meetings ? 
10. Why should we not drill the society in singing 
during the prayer meeting ? 

Flower Committee 

1. How can we take advantage of the home flowers 

of the Endeavorers ? 

2. How can we get money to buy flowers ? 

3. What are some good ways of decorating the 

pulpit ? 

4. What use shall we make of the flow 7 ers after we 

are through with them for the church ? 

5. How can we put personality into our gifts of 

flowers for the sick ? 

6. To whom that are not sick may w T e give flowers ? 

7. What can the flower committee do for the ch arch- 

yard? 



UNION COMMITTEE CONFEKENCES 241 

8. How can the society raise its own flowers ? 

9, What besides flowers may we use to decorate 

with ? 
10. What unique decorations have you seen recently ? 

Press Committee 

1. Why should every society have a press com- 

mittee ? 

2. Who should serve on the press committee ? 

3. About what should the press committee write ? 

4. For what papers should the press committee re- 

port? 

5. What are some of the qualities of a good news 

item? 

6. How can the press committee get these items ac- 

cepted ? 

7. How does the work of the press committee help 

the society and the church ? 
S. What are some common mistakes made by news 

writers ? 
9. How can we better the Christian Endeavor and 

church reporting of this town ? 
10. For what periodicals of more than local range 

should we write ? 

Temperance and Citizenship Committee 

1. What are the advantages of a society temperance 

pledge ? 

2. What temperance and civic studies should the 

societies make ? 

3. What practical work for temperance and citizen- 

ship should our societies undertake ? 

4. How can our societies instruct and train their 

young voters ? 

5. How can we strengthen the prayer meetings that 

have temperance and citizenship topics ? 

6. What civic work for our town can we do ? 

7. What reforms besides the temperance reform need 

our aid ? 



242 UNION WOEK 

8. What work can we do with temperance posters ? 

9. How can we make Christian Endeavor count for 

the right in political campaigns ? 
10. How can we cultivate in our societies the spirit of 
patriotism ? 

Good-Literature Committee 

1. How organize and conduct a reading club? 

2. How bring good books to the attention of our 

Endeavorers ? 

3. Why should we have society libraries ? 

4. How can we improve the use of the public 

library ? 

5. What can we do to increase the circulation of 

religious papers ? 

6. How call attention to what is best in current 

periodicals ? 

7. How gather up the used reading matter of the 

community ? 

8. What use shall we make of the used reading mat- 

ter thus gathered ? 

9. How can we better the literary taste of our mem- 

bers? 
10. How can we connect our members' reading with 
the prayer meeting ? 

Sunday-School Committee 

1. What are the duties of this committee ? 

2. How can we help to furnish substitute teachers ? 

3. How can we call attention to the Sunday-school 

lessons in our prayer meetings ? 

4. How can we help the Endeavorers to study their 

Sunday-school lessons ? 

5. What can we do to promote systematic Bible study ? 

6. What should the Sunday-school teachers do to 

promote Christian Endeavor ? 

7. How may the Sunday-school superintendents aid 

our societies ? 

8. How can we help in the Sunday-school concerts ? 



UNION COMMITTEE CONFERENCES 243 

9. How can our different committees aid the Sunday 

school ? 
10. How can we increase the number of Sunday-school 
pupils ? 

Conference Speakers.— The committee conference is 
mainly for conferring, but thoughts will be stimulated 
by an opening talk along the line of the conference, 
provided it is a very brief one and very pointed. Do 
not seek a famous speaker, but a practical one. Get 
him to name his subject, or assign it to him. You may 
well ask him to speak on one of the questions suggested 
above for your conference. Advertise this opening talk 
when you announce the conference. Let the speaker 
hold himself ready to answer questions referred to him 
during the conference. 

Conference Essays. — Brief essays may be used in our 
conferences, essays written by the Endeavorers them- 
selves. Here again we must insist upon brevity — five 
minutes is the outside limit. The advantage of the es- 
say is that some will take part in this way that could 
not or would not speak extemporaneously, and also the 
essay is likely to bring into the conference the fruit of 
a rather wide reading of books and papers. 

Question-Boxes and Answer-Boxes. — These are both 
valuable adjuncts of committee conferences, provided 
they are well worked up. For the question-box the 
committee should see to it that some bright and worth- 
while questions are placed in the box, and that the box 
is opened and the questions answered by a bright, 
brief, and practical speaker. For an answer-box some 
practical question is proposed in the announcement of 
the conference, preferably one that will bring out ex- 
periences and tried methods, and every one that comes 



244 UNION WOEK 

is asked to bring a written answer to the question. 
These answers will be collected and digested in private 
by some good speaker, who will at the close of the con- 
ference give a summary of the best replies. 

District Conferences.— Where the city union is too 
large for conferences including all the workers in the 
city engaged along a certain line, the city may be 
divided into districts and the workers will hold district 
conferences which will be conducted exactly like the 
union conferences described above. Only the com- 
mittees found in all the societies will need thus to 
divide their conferences. Committees found less often, 
such as the press committee, can get together in a single 
conference. 



Class Work on Chapter XXIV 

The Leader's Questions 
Why should a union hold committee conferences ? 
How should a conference evening be managed ? 
What is the work of a conference committee ? 
How is a table conference conducted ? 
What is a question conference ? 

What topics should be added to any of the lists given ? 
What use should be made of conference speakers ? 
How will question-boxes and answer-boxes be used in 

the conferences ? 
How are district conferences conducted ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Value of the Conference Idea. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that we should have more conferences in our 
union. 



CHAPTER XXV 

PREPARING FOR AND UTILIZING A 
CONVENTION 

The Plan of the Convention.— The first step in pre- 
paring for a convention is to decide what the conven- 
tion is to accomplish. Every convention worth holding 
has a purpose — many purposes, doubtless, but one 
predominant purpose. 

Let those at the head of the union consider what is 
the chief lack of the work. Is it the spirit of devo- 
tion ? Then plan a convention breathing the spirit of 
prayer. Is it civic fervor ? Then plan a convention 
that will be earnestly and practically patriotic. Is it 
evangelistic zeal ? Then plan a soul-saving convention. 
Are the societies behindhand in the adoption of wide- 
awake Christian Endeavor methods ? Then plan a 
convention for the exhibition and advocacy of them. 
Upon your choice of a convention aim will depend 
your choice of speakers, the character of your adver- 
tising, and your emphasis all through the days of prep- 
aration. This, therefore, is the first thing to do — 
determine what the convention is to do. 

Choosing the Speakers. — You cannot always obtain 
the speakers you would like best, but you can always 
try for them. Never give up the possibility of getting 
a speaker, however eminent, till you have made a trial. 
There may be some reason why the very speaker you 
think most inaccessible would be especially glad to 
speak in your State and at your convention. Pick out 

245 



246 UNION WOEK 

the speakers whom you think to be ideally the best, and 
invite them first. Do not rely wholly upon your own 
knowledge of speakers, but consult widely. A one-man 
programme will suit that one man and others just like 
him, but it will not have the breadth necessary to meet 
the needs of your wide constituency. 

But do not, however famous a man may be, select 
one who is an egotist and who will speak merely to 
show himself off. Choose men and women of noble 
character, whose single aim is the advancement of the 
kingdom of God. They should all be sympathetic with 
Christian Endeavor, or at least not antagonistic to our 
society. Sometimes the observations made at our con- 
ventions have transformed an indifferent acquaintance 
of Christian Endeavor into an ardent friend of the work. 

It is best to allow the speaker to choose his own sub- 
ject, after you have carefully explained the part of the 
programme into which you wish him to fit. If the 
speaker is worth while, his own subject will be better 
for him than any you might present to him. In order 
to set him to thinking along the desired lines, however, 
it is well to suggest a subject to him, telling him that 
you present it only as a suggestion, and asking him 
either to adopt it or name a cognate theme. 

Always remember that a speaker should be bigger 
than his subject ; that is, the right speaker will in- 
fluence more by what he is than even by what he says. 
Therefore you will seek primarily to obtain men whose 
spirits are in harmony with the purpose of the conven- 
tion, sure that their words will also be in harmony. 

Obtaining the Speakers. — Six months in advance of 
the convention is not too soon to begin the work of 
getting the speakers ; indeed, it is often best to open 



PREPARING FOR A CONVENTION 247 

correspondence with the principal speakers a year in 
advance. Usually the more worth while they are, the 
longer in advance is their time mortgaged. 

Few unions can offer payment, but the speaker should 
be told that his expenses will be paid. If he is a very 
busy man, he will be far more likely to come if you 
tell him that he will be entertained at a hotel, for en- 
tertainment at a private house, however delightful, 
gives one little or no opportunity for work such as 
may be had at a hotel. 

In writing to the person whom you would like for a 
speaker, tell him how many you expect to attend the 
convention (make a very conservative estimate), and 
just what time will be given him on the programme. 
Assure him that he will receive the full time, and will 
be introduced promptly. An experienced speaker has 
learned by many disagreeable happenings that this is 
not often the case, and he will be favorably inclined 
toward the invitation that recognizes this frequent 
fault and promises to avoid it. 

In Touch with the Speakers.— If the speaker gives 
only a half promise, you will need to keep at him till 
you know definitely about the matter. If in the nature 
of things he cannot be sure of attending and still you 
wish to advertise him, state in the announcement 
merely that he has been invited and will attend if pos- 
sible. If he promises to attend, yet you will keep in 
touch with him, making several excuses to send him 
letters of reminder — once to give him a preliminary 
printed notice of the convention, once to send him the 
printed programme, at other times to send him adver- 
tising matter in which his name appears, and finally, 
just before the convention, to ask him on what train 



248 UNION WOEK 

he will arrive so that you may meet him at the station. 
Thus you will keep the speaker thinking about the 
convention, he will not make a conflicting engagement, 
and he will be preparing his address. 

Paying the Speakers. — Some treasurers wait till the 
very last minute before his departure before paying the 
speaker's expenses. Others wait till his return home, 
thus putting him to the trouble of writing. Still others 
more courteously ask him as soon as he arrives what 
his expenses have been, and if double the sum will get 
him home without personal cost ; then a check is made 
out at once, and given to him with a word of hearty 
appreciation. If payment is made in money (which is 
usually preferable to a check), a receipt will be made 
out for him to sign, so that the treasurer can present it 
to the auditor ; even when a check is given, the use of 
a printed receipt is more businesslike, as the check may 
not be returned in time for the auditor's examination. 

Entertaining the Speakers. — The entertainment com- 
mittee, or whatever committee has charge of the enter- 
tainment of the speakers, should personally visit the 
hotel and see the rooms to be occupied by the speakers, 
noting their condition carefully. Do not send your 
speakers to rooms smelling of tobacco, without proper 
toilet facilities, noisy, poorly ventilated, hot, or other- 
wise uncomfortable. Look out more carefully for them 
than you would for yourself. 

If they go to private houses, choose families where 
their comfort will be cared for, where they will be 
honored, but where they will not be bored with con- 
stant attention, but sometimes left to themselves. The 
richest families are not always the best hosts. 



PEEPAEING FOE A CONVENTION 249 

Meet the speakers at their trains, having found out 
beforehand what those trains are to be, and escort them 
to their lodgings. Tell them just how to reach the 
convention meeting-place, and, if it is at all difficult to 
find, send some one to go with them the first time. A 
bouquet of flowers placed in a speaker's room is a 
graceful attention, sure to be appreciated. Leave with 
him a copy of the convention programme, even if }^ou 
have sent him one. Pin upon him at once the conven- 
tion badge. He will be delighted to be met at the 
train by a group of Endeavorers singing and cheering, 
and, if possible, it is fine to send him off in the same 
lively fashion. Give him a ride around the city while 
he is with you, and show him its attractions. Some of 
the friends of Christian Endeavor will be glad to enter- 
tain him at their houses for special meals, even if he is 
at the hotel, but these should be persons whom you are 
sure he will be glad to meet. It requires only a little 
knowledge of human nature to be sure that speakers 
entertained in this cordial way will give their very 
best to the convention. 

Advertising the Convention.— The convention poster 
is perhaps the first piece of convention advertising mat- 
ter to be prepared. Some unique design, well drawn 
and well printed, will be of especial value. It should 
introduce the convention emblem, which should appear 
also on the badge and in the programme. This emblem 
may fittingly have to do with the convention city. If 
the town's chief industry is the manufacture of shoes, . 
the convention emblem may be a tiny shoe. If the 
church which is the meeting-place has a conspicuous 
spire, this may be the convention emblem. If a river 
passing through the town has a well-known fall, that 



250 UNION WORK 

may become the pictorial designation of the con- 
vention. 

These posters will be sent to all the societies, for 
placing on the walls of their meeting-rooms. Others 
will be sent to the unions, for posting in railway sta- 
tions and other places. A circular will be carefully 
prepared setting forth the aims of the convention, the 
principal speakers and topics, the attractions of the 
convention city, and the advantages to be gained from 
attendance. Get every union to appoint an excursion 
manager, whose task it will be to get up the union 
delegation and pilot it to the convention. The names 
of these excursion managers will be printed on the cir- 
culars sent to their respective cities. 

A little article about the convention will be printed 
and sent to all the newspapers in the State, including, 
of course, all the religious papers. You will follow 
this with convention news items from time to time, 
telling about the prominent speakers and the chief 
features of the coming gathering. Also other circulars 
will follow the first one sent to the societies, each 
circular adding to the information given in the preced- 
ing ones. Print some of these in poster form, for dis- 
play in the society meeting-rooms. 

The Convention Committee. — The central committee 
of the convention will consist of the usual officers, 
president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, with 
the chairmen of the convention sub-committees, those 
on printing and publicity, on decorations, music, Junior 
rally, registration, reception, entertainment, ushers, and 
finance. Each of these chairmen will have a committee 
under him, large or small according to the duty of the 
committee and the size of the convention. This com- 



PREPARING FOR A CONVENTION 251 

mittee should hold frequent meetings for discussion of 
all the important matters connected with the conven- 
tion, and should, of course, be constantly in communica- 
tion with the State officers, especially the president and 
field secretary. 

As the time for the convention draws near, all the 
members of all the committees should meet, and rous- 
ing speakers should tell them just what their duties are 
to be during the coming days, and fill them full of zeal 
for their important work. 

Financing the Convention. — The expenses of a State 
convention are for the programmes and badges, the ex- 
penses of speakers, the decorations, the advertising of 
the convention in advance, and sometimes for the con- 
vention meeting-place. They may be met by the 
societies entertaining the convention, without aid from 
outside. If the convention is a large one and the 
entertaining union is a small one, they may need to 
canvass the merchants of the place and others likely 
to be benefited by the convention, such as the street- 
car company. Churches also may be willing to make 
contributions. The work of gathering these subscrip- 
tions is the important task of the convention finance 
committee, which may well be the same as the finance 
committee of the entertaining union. 

Sometimes the convention chorus, after long practice, 
gives a concert just before the convention, and the 
receipts often suffice to pay all the convention expenses, 
while the concert serves finely to advertise the coming 
gathering. 

Prayer for the Convention.— Prayer preparation is 
even more important and necessary than money prep 



252 UNION WOEK 

aration. Long before the time for the convention the 
societies of the union that entertains it will be praying 
most earnestly for its success, and word will go out all 
over the State urgently requesting the State Endeavorers 
to offer up petitions for the success of the convention. 
In this request for prayer mention the special aims of 
the convention, and ask that the prayers shall include 
petitions for the success of the convention in these 
particulars. 

Sending Delegates to the Convention. — An unselfish 
plan, very characteristic of Christian Endeavor, is that 
of sending delegates to the convention from the various 
societies and unions. Their expenses are borne by the 
bodies sending them, and the money is sometimes 
appropriated from the treasury and sometimes gathered 
by private subscription. The Endeavorer thus honored 
is some one high in the affection of the Endeavorers 
because of loyal service rendered to Christian Endeavor, 
and very often it is some devoted pastor whose attend- 
ance at the convention deepens his love for our society, 
while at the same time it greatly strengthens him for 
his task. To be sent as a delegate implies a responsi- 
bility to bring back to the society or the union an 
inspiring account of the convention and give it as 
widely as possible, thus spreading abroad the blessed 
convention influence. Many a life has been gloriously 
transformed because of receiving the gift of attendance 
at a Christian Endeavor convention. 

Badges and Banners. — The convention badge need 
not be expensive. Much thought and brightness put 
into it will produce better results than much money 
without thought and brightness. A pleasing design 



PEEPAEING FOE A CONVENTION 253 

full of meaning and a choice selection of colors are 
worth more than costly ornamentation. 

The same is true of the decorations of the convention 
city and the convention church. Good taste and an 
abundance of enthusiasm will produce excellent results 
without the aid of professional decorators. Prepare 
original window displays telling something about Chris- 
tian Endeavor. Make banners bearing Christian En- 
deavor mottoes, such as " For Christ and the Church," 
" One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are 
brethren," and " Onward, Christian soldiers," and place 
these banners in conspicuous positions. Use liberally 
the regular Christian Endeavor flags and streamers of 
the Christian Endeavor red and white. Kemember 
that the purpose of city decorations is twofold, to 
advertise the convention locally and to make the 
visiting Endeavorers understand that they are wel- 
come. For these reasons much time and care should 
be lavished upon this important matter. 

The Lodging Question. — Long before the convention 
(and yet not so long in advance that the arrangements 
made will be forgotten or necessarily changed by 
changed circumstances), the entertainment committee 
will canvass the community for lodging-places for the 
delegates. Where the convention is to be a small one, 
free entertainment may be obtained ; but in most 
States the convention has become so large that free 
entertainment has had to be abandoned. The enter- 
tainment committee, however, fixes the lowest price 
that is reasonable, and seeks to find the best homes 
that are willing to receive and care for delegates with 
this compensation. These will be largely the homes of 
church people, and the religious motive will be ap~ 



254 UNION WORK 

pealed to to persuade many that would not otherwise 
open their houses to strangers. Of course the com. 
mittee will not ask any families that it does not know 
to be respectable and kind, likely to care well for their 
guests, and to this end the committee should be made 
up of Endeavorers from all sections of the city, well 
acquainted with their own neighborhoods. A written 
statement regarding each family and what it will do 
should be retained in duplicate by the family and the 
committee, for ready reference and to avoid misunder- 
standings. 

The Reception Committee. — This committee should 
consist of wide-awake Endeavorers, those that can be 
depended upon, quick-witted for all emergencies, tact- 
ful and cordial. These are fine qualities, but they are 
not hard to discover among Christian Endeavorers. 
Squads of the committee will be assigned to the differ- 
ent stations and steamboat wharves, and each squad 
will become thoroughly familiar with its duties in ad- 
vance. Some easily seen mark will be worn by the 
members of the committee, white yachting caps with 
red-lettered bands, " Reception Committee," being es- 
pecially favored. The committee will escort the dele- 
gates to the registration headquarters, where they will 
learn their lodging assignments, and then will take 
them to their convention homes and introduce them to 
their hostesses. If the committee can learn in advance 
on what trains the largest number of delegates will 
arrive, it is a charming attention to go out ten miles or 
so to meet them. On the train, travelling those ten 
miles, you can make acquaintances and give a lot of 
information and inspiration. For giving zest to the 
reception, Christian Endeavor cheers and songs are 



PREPARING FOR A CONVENTION 255 

valuable, and the reception committee will have a 
bright supply of them which it will use vigorously. 

Convention Automobiles.— Probably the reception 
committee cannot press into service enough automobiles 
to transport all the delegates in that swift and luxuriant 
fashion, but in almost any community there will be 
enough Christian Endeavor automobiles to carry the 
convention speakers to their hotels and other lodging- 
places, to take them to and from the convention hall, 
and to give them restful drives about the city and sur- 
rounding country. Automobile-owners will usually be 
glad to perform this service, and only need to be asked. 
The convention automobiles should be distinguished by 
Christian Endeavor banners. 

The Work of Registration. — Sometimes the register- 
ing of delegates can be expeditiously accomplished at 
the railroad stations as the delegates arrive, but few 
railroads will give the station space necessary, and 
often it is quite as convenient for the registration to 
be made in a centrally located church, probably the 
convention church itself, with whose location the dele- 
gates are at once acquainted. Sometimes several 
churches are used in the various sections of the city 
to which the delegates are assigned. Sometimes the 
registering is done at the convention hotels. 

Wherever the registration is made, it should be sim- 
plified as much as possible, so that the delegates may 
not be kept waiting a wearisome time, for they are all 
tired with their journeys. Have a good-sized force of 
workers, thoroughly drilled. Cut out all unnecessary 
red tape. Many convention registration cards call for 
too much information, information that will serve no 



256 UNION WOEK 

possible use and is never called for after the convention. 
You will want the name and home address of each 
delegate, that you may reach him after the convention 
with announcements regarding the convention report 
and with other communications useful to the union and 
to him. You will also find it interesting, if not di- 
rectly useful, to know from what societies the dele- 
gates come and the denomination of each society. 
Upon the registration card will also be placed the con- 
vention address of the delegate, so that his friends may 
find him. All these registration cards should be kept 
filed in the central registration bureau, though a dupli- 
cate of each card may well be retained at the original 
place of registering. The different registration booths 
should be in telephonic communication, and it should 
be easy for the chairman of the registration committee 
to discover at the end of each day just how many have 
been registered. 

Placarding the Convention Churches.— There is no 
better advertisement of the convention than a large 
streamer on the convention church or on each of the 
convention churches, stating that the Christian En- 
deavor convention Avill meet there on such a day. Put 
this in position as early as possible. In front of each 
church will be placed, a day in advance, a big plain 
placard announcing the times of the meetings to be held 
there on the following day, with the general themes and 
the names of all the leading speakers. Such announce- 
ments will do much to spread the information about 
the convention, and will draw many into the audiences. 

The Convention Ushers. — Much of the comfort of 
the delegates and the success of the meetings will de- 



PEEPAEING FOE A COKVEj^TION 257 

pend upon the corps of ushers. They will be well 
drilled for their work by a tactful and enthusiastic 
chairman. He will arrange for signals to be made, 
perhaps from the back of the church, by a display of 
large circles of cardboard of different colors meaning, 
respectively, " Preserve silence," " Close the doors," 
" Open the doors," " Open the windows," " Close the 
windows," " Less moving about," etc. A system of 
calls by means of a shrill whistle may also be arranged 
for emergencies. If the weather is very hot and some 
one gets faint, the ushers will be instructed what to do 
and where to take the affected person. During the 
convention the ushers will have many an opportunity 
for a quiet word for the Master, and they should be 
earnest Christians. The same remark applies to every 
member of the convention committees. 

Of course the ushers will all wear some badge or 
armlet or hat-band, which will distinguish them easily 
and conspicuously. 

Preparing the Music. — The convention music com- 
mittee should be headed by a man of fine musical 
ability, which he will hold strictly in the service of his 
religion. Thus he will not allow the convention music 
to become a medium for advertising, personal or other- 
wise, nor will he let the singing of the convention 
degenerate into a singing-school. The music will be 
educative by its inherent nobility. It will please, not 
by catchy, trivial tunes, but by its strong appeal to all 
that is best in the human heart. 

The -convention chorus will be as large as the conven- 
tion platform can accommodate, and will be thoroughly 
drilled, but not over-drilled. The zeal of the members 
of the chorus will be stimulated by the concert which 



258 UNION WOEK 

they will give precedent to the convention. Do not 
allow encores, for thus the music will trench unwarrant- 
ably upon the other parts of the programme. At the 
same time do not allow the rest of the programme to 
steal time that should be spent in the singing which the 
Encleavorers love. See that an adequate collection of 
songs is in the hands of every delegate. If you wish to 
introduce some special piece to be sung over and over, 
let it be some anthem or other worth-while music which 
will repay the time spent upon it and make the conven- 
tion really contribute to the musical education of the 
Endeavorers. While you will have perhaps in every 
session some fine solo, you will not permit such features 
to take the place of the hearty congregational singing 
for which Christian Endeavor conventions are deservedly 
famous. 

The Children's Part.— Probably every State Chris- 
tian Endeavor convention and most of the county and 
district conventions now have a session devoted to the 
children. No part of the convention programme re- 
quires longer drill and preparation than this. The 
Junior superintendent of the union entertaining the 
convention will early apportion the work among the 
different Junior societies, and will herself visit each 
of them and see that the society is practising faith- 
fully. An attractive children's exercise may be pre- 
sented, or some elaborate entertainment, if you have 
the material for it ; but if you lack this, do not hesitate 
to give simply an exhibit of ordinary Junior work at 
its best — the concert reciting of Scripture passages, per- 
haps with appropriate gestures in concert, the giving of 
recitations, the singing of songs by whole societies, 
symbolic marching, question-and-answer drills on Chris- 



PREPARING FOR A CONVENTION 259 

tian Endeavor facts, on missions, and on the Bible, a 
model Junior prayer meeting or missionary meeting or 
business meeting, and the like. At the close may come 
a bright illustrated talk to the children by some one 
who knows how to do it, a talk that will not merely 
interest the children but leave with them some uplift- 
ing thoughts. 

The Convention Excursion.— One afternoon near the 
end of the sessions will prove a welcome rest and 
change if it is given up to recreation. The excursion 
may be arranged by railroad or steamboat to the most 
interesting point in the vicinity. Plan for Christian 
Endeavor speaking on the way and at the end of the 
outward trip. If the excursion is not feasible, you can 
surely have a field day full of athletic competitions of 
great interest, making the tests so easy that girls can 
take part in at least some of them, and even having 
events for the Juniors. To make a field day a success 
the various societies should be notified of it well in ad- 
vance, and the chairman of the field-day committee 
should see to it by visiting and correspondence that a 
sufficient number of societies train for it to make it 
-go." 

The Press Service.— Upon the work of the convention 
press committee depends most of the effect of the gather- 
ing in the outside world. This committee will notify the 
newspapers in advance of the convention, sending them 
press tickets which will admit their representatives at 
once to all sessions, and asking if they will have repre- 
sentatives in attendance. Visit the local papers in per- 
son and tell the editors about the convention, and, if 
necessary, about Christian Endeavor. Ask each for an 



260 UNION WOEK 

editorial on the day of the opening of the convention, 
and for at least one editorial while the convention is in 
session. Ask them to detail their best reporters to 
cover the meetings. Suggest interviews with the lead- 
ing speakers, and tell the editors something about them. 
Have a press-room where the reporters can get up 
their accounts of the convention on convention type- 
writers, with the chairman of the press committee at 
hand to give all needed information. Put the press- 
tables immediately in front of the speakers' platform, 
and place upon them a liberal supply of paper. Give 
each reporter a badge and programme. A member of 
the press committee will always be at hand, ready to 
give information about the speakers and concerning all 
points that may come up in the course of the sessions. 
Thank the newspapers not only in the convention 
resolutions, but by special letter after the convention is 
over. 

Convention Greetings. — It is always pleasant and in- 
spiring for one convention to receive greetings from an- 
other, and a little money is well spent in sending tele- 
grams of cordial greeting to all important Christian 
Endeavor or allied conventions that are in session at 
the same time with you. A list of these may be found 
in The Christian Endeavor World. You will doubt- 
less receive replies, and these should be read to the 
convention. If the other convention gets ahead of you, 
have your convention vote to send a reply. 

Convention Summaries. — The union executive com- 
mittee should appoint some one of its number (the con- 
vention press committee chairman will be too busy) to 
write a summary of the gathering, taking perhaps a 



PEEPAEING FOE A CONVENTION 261 

thousand words, and have it printed in time for distri- 
bution to the delegates at the last session. The dele- 
gates will be asked to have the account priuted in their 
local papers, including their church and denomina- 
tional papers. This account should be by the brightest 
writer obtainable, and should treat whatever in the 
convention is unique and specially interesting and help- 
ful. 

Echo Meetings. — Urge the delegates to hold echo 
meetings when they return. Even if a locality has 
only one Endeavorer who went to the convention, he 
can man an echo meeting all by himself. The char- 
acteristic convention songs will be sung by the audience, 
and also by a quartette or chorus. Convention decora- 
tions will be imitated. The speakers will wear the 
convention badge. If there are several speakers, they 
will divide among them the various features of the con- 
vention, so that the whole will be covered. The reports 
will be given without reading from note-books, except 
now and then a brief quotation. Put into the echo 
meeting all the enthusiasm of the original gathering, 
fill it full of practical plans, crown it with the spirit of 
consecration, and it will wonderfully multiply the con- 
vention influence. 

Reporting Bands. — It is a fine plan for a group of 
delegates who attended the convention together to form 
on their return a reporting band, which will go about 
to the towns and churches not favored thus with dele- 
gates, and hold echo meetings there. Practice in re- 
porting the convention will give these speakers skill, 
and very soon their recital will be pronounced a great 
treat. Such a band may go to the aid of a single dele- 



262 UNION WORK 

gate who feels too weak to be the only speaker at an 
echo meeting. 

The Convention Report. — The final printed report of 
the convention, prepared usually by the recording secre- 
tary of the union, cannot come oat too soon after the 
convention is over. Be energetic and persistent, and 
you will surprise and delight the Endeavorers with 
your promptness. The report will be read with double 
interest if it appears soon after the convention closes. 

This report will be large or small, in proportion to 
the union's financial ability and the number of its mem- 
bers subscribing for it in advance. It will be popular 
quite in proportion as you are able to promise full re- 
ports of the convention addresses that have been the 
most popular, so that you will make special effort to have 
these taken down verbatim by reporters, or else to get 
the speakers to write them out in full. It is always best 
to have the speaker read the shorthand report, if one 
is relied upon, since sometimes the reporter will make 
absurd errors in carrying out his difficult task. Do not 
be over-ambitious and allow the report to saddle a debt 
upon the union, but get out only so large a report as you 
can reasonably expect to pay for from the receipts. 



Class Work on Chapter XXV 

The Leaders Questions 

How is a convention plan formed ? 

How are the convention speakers chosen ? How ob- 
tained ? 

How will the officers keep in touch with the promised 
speakers ? 



PEEPAEING FOE A CONVENTION 263 

How will the speakers be paid ? How entertained ? 

How will the convention be advertised ? 

Of what officers should the convention committee con- 
sist ? 

How will the convention be financed ? 

How will prayer for the convention be obtained? 

How will delegates be sent to the convention ? 

Describe the use of convention badges and banners. 

How will the convention lodging-places be obtained ? 

Describe the work of the reception committee ; regis- 
tration committee ; ushers ; music committee ; press 
committee. 

AVhat will be the children's part in the convention ? 

How will the convention be reported ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Value of Christian Endeavor Conventions. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that the gains from Christian Endeavor con- 
ventions well warrant their cost. 



CHAPTER XXVI 
THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 

The Presiding Officer. — Whoever presides over a 
convention has much to do with its success or failure. 
He should be decisive and energetic, earnest and conse- 
crated, bright and jolly. He has many chances of 
putting his own spirit into the convention, and should 
see that his own spirit is just what ought to go into the 
gathering. 

The president of the union should not always preside, 
but should ask others to relieve him of that duty during 
some of the sessions. Thus he will introduce others to 
the work, and among them some notable discoveries 
may be made. Moreover, he will thus be enabled to 
get a view of the meetings which will cause him per- 
haps to make some changes for the better in the man- 
agement of them. The other leading officers of the 
union may be asked to take the president's place on 
these occasions. 

Unless the presiding officer is a remarkably ready 
speaker, it will be well for him to think over each part 
of the programme well in advance, planning the con- 
duct of each and devising interesting introductions for 
the various speakers. The effect of many a speech has 
been greatly heightened by the right kind of introduc- 
tion. The president cannot prepare too well for all 
parts of his important task. 

Promptness.— Be prompt ! When the time for start- 
ing comes, start ! When the time for closing comes, 

264 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 265 

close ! You can if you will. You may need to post- 
pone or leave without attention some very important 
matter ; never mind, nothing is quite so important just 
then as that the convention should move on time and 
the Endeavorers should come to understand it. The 
spirit of promptness quickly spreads from the presiding 
officer ; so does the spirit of dilatoriness. 

Keep to the Programme. — Some presiding officers 
are absolutely regardless in adding impromptu features 
to the programme, which is almost invariably over- 
crowded already. They call upon this and that well- 
known clergyman, they introduce important visitors 
" for a few words," they call up some former president, 
they even sandwich in an unexpected consecration 
meeting or open parliament. In the meantime the 
regular speakers are anxious, seeing the interest of 
their audience slipping away from them, and the au- 
dience itself is cheated of much of the well-prepared 
addresses which they came to hear. It should be the 
rule to get through with the programme first, and then, 
if there is time and the audience is still fresh, to add 
these extra features, provided they are well worth add- 
ing. To do otherwise is to sin grievously against 
courtesy and justice to the invited speakers. 

The Devotional Exercises. — The devotional exercises 
that open the convention and all its sessions should be 
planned as carefully as any other part of the pro- 
gramme ; indeed, with even more care than most other 
parts. Tell each minister who is to conduct the devo- 
tional exercises just how much time he is to have, and 
choose men for the work that can be trusted not to ex- 
ceed that time. Some have been known to seize the 



266 UNION WOEK 

opportunity to make addresses of considerable length 
preliminary to the Bible-reading and prayer. ISTo de- 
votional service is likely to be more impressive or more 
thoroughly Christian Endeavor than a series of sentence 
prayers by the Endeavorers themselves. Sometimes 
you may have three or four brief prayers by members 
of the State executive committee. Sometimes you may 
call upon the Endeavorers present to repeat Bible verses. 
Sometimes you may have the audience sing a prayer 
hymn, or read it softly with bowed heads. Sometimes 
you may call upon one minister to read the Bible, an- 
other to comment upon what has been read, and a third 
to offer prayer. 

It is very helpful to introduce a half -hour or a quar- 
ter-hour of prayer and praise in the very middle of a 
session. The theme will naturally be the theme of the 
session, and much will be gained from the change as 
well as from the participation of the audience. These 
periods should be led by the very best speakers. 

The Addresses of Welcome.— It is well to hear 
three brief addresses of welcome, one from the local 
committee, one from one of the local pastors, and one 
from a representative of the city government. These 
should be very brief and right to the point. They give 
chances to recognize different elements in the commu- 
nity, and the speakers always have interesting things 
to say which bear on the comfort and pleasure of the 
delegates. Five minutes is usually long enough for an 
address of welcome and for the reply to all the ad- 
dresses, which may well be made by the president of 
the State union speaking for the delegates. Twenty 
minutes devoted to these four opening addresses will 
leave ample time for the main address of the evening. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 267 

It pays to plan novel forms of welcome, such as a 
brief rhymed address spoken in concert by local En- 
deavorers, one representative from each society in the 
city, not omitting the Juniors. Or you may have a 
few words — a very few — from a number of ministers, 
one from each denomination in the city having Chris- 
tian Endeavor societies. 

Invited to the Platform.— If the platform has room 
for them, it is well to invite to sit there the pastors and 
their wives. The sight of the great throng of young 
Christians will do them good, and the Endeavorers 
themselves will be pleased by seeing the noble faces of 
their Christian leaders. This plan may be varied at 
the missionary session by calling to the platform, in- 
stead of the pastors, all the missionary workers present 
at the convention. If special branches of Christian 
Endeavor are discussed at any session, call to the plat- 
form those working especially along those lines, such 
as all the Junior superintendents, all the Intermediate 
superintendents, and all the chairmen of press commit- 
tees. If any especially distinguished person is present, 
do not fail to place him upon the platform, if he will come. 

The Business of the Convention.— Our Christian En- 
deavor conventions are primarily mass meetings, inspi- 
rational and instructive in their character, and not de- 
liberative. They are not for the transaction of business. 
This, so far as relates to the State union, is done mainly 
in the sessions of the executive committee. The offi- 
cers, however, must be elected by the convention, 
amendments to the State constitution must be ex- 
plained and adopted when necessary, and a few other 
matters of business must be attended to. All of this 



268 UNION WOEK 

should be done with great expedition, though not rail- 
roaded through. We must remember that many are 
present to whom such details are quite uninteresting, 
since they do not belong to the society. 

Sometimes " cranks " appear in our conventions, each 
anxious to get before the Endeavorers with his special 
hobby. They generally have resolutions to offer, and 
plead for them very strenuously. To meet this pos- 
sible emergency and many others, a business or resolu- 
tions committee will be appointed at the opening ses- 
sion by the president, all resolutions proposed and all 
other matters of suggested business to go automatically 
to this committee without debate. The committee will 
consider all such proposals, and will bring them before 
the convention if it seems wise. 

Recognition of Other Organizations. — It is usually 
not expedient to make room upon the programme for 
" fraternal greetings " from other religious organiza- 
tions, much as we should like to do so and heartily as 
we believe in brotherly co-operation. But our pro- 
grammes are always very crowded, and the religious 
organizations that could properly be recognized in this 
way are legion. If a beginning w T ere made, it would 
be impossible to know where to stop ; therefore it is 
best not to make the beginning. When a representa- 
tive of some other religious organization is given a 
regular place upon the programme it is of course an- 
other matter. 

Open Parliaments. — An open parliament on some 
question on which the Endeavorers can speak readily, 
such as " What is the best thing your societ}^ has done 
this year ? " is always a lively and profitable feature of 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 269 

a convention. It should be conducted by a speaker 
thoroughly familiar with the subject of the open parlia- 
ment, very quick and bright, and at the same time 
sensible enough not to make a speech, but just to say 
enough to start the Endeavorers. He should have wit 
and decision in cutting short long-winded speakers and 
drawing out brief and pointed replies from the En- 
deavorers. Every Christian Endeavor convention may 
well have at least one open parliament, provided the 
audiences are not so large as to prevent the young 
people who take part from being heard. 

Question-Boxes and Answer-Boxes. — For a question- 
box the delegates are asked to write out questions on 
any Christian Endeavor problem or general religious 
or moral problem upon which they really want light. 
These questions will be handed in a few hours in ad- 
vance of the session at which the question-box will be 
" opened." They will be read by the person who is to 
conduct the exercise, and he will weed out those that 
he does not consider best to treat, carefully considering 
his replies to the others. These replies should be very 
concise and bright, so that the exercise will not take 
longer than the time allotted it, and yet all the questions 
will be answered. If there is time, opportunity may 
be given for oral questions, and some prefer to have 
the entire exercise conducted in that way, some brave 
man standing forth to answer any question propounded 
to him from the floor. This makes an especially brisk 
feature, good to liven up a programme. 

The answer-box is the reverse of all this. A question 
of practical value is printed in the programme or an- 
nounced at the opening session, and the Endeavorers 
are asked to write answers and hand them in by a 



270 UNION WOEK 

certain time. These answers are given to a good 
speaker who will glean the best and* read them to the 
convention, with his comments. The question for the 
answer-box will be such as the following : " What new 
work would you like to see our societies undertake this 
fall and winter?" The answer-box, it will be seen, 
does not differ from the open parliament except that 
the answers to the question are written. 

The Convention Collections.— The best way of pro- 
viding for the convention expenses that are not met by 
local arrangement is to charge twenty-five or fifty cents 
as a registration fee. For this the delegates will receive 
each a programme and a badge. Sometimes, however, 
it is thought best to receive convention offerings, and 
when this is done a forceful speaker will explain just 
for what purpose the money is asked. In some States 
the money for the work of the State union through 
the year is raised during the State convention, at least 
in part, and the delegates come prepared to tell what 
their societies will give for this purpose. It is not well 
to take the time of the convention for these statements. 
Simply announce that at the close of each meeting the 
State treasurer or some assistant will be at a certain 
table ready to receive and record the pledges for the 
State work. This puts the matter in writing, as it 
should be. The treasurer will make a brief statement 
in each meeting summing up the pledges and stating 
what is the deficiency, if there is any. Endeavorers 
ought not to need the motive of emulation to inspire 
them to give for their State Christian Endeavor union, 
and the union that relies upon auctioneer methods of 
raising its money needs to educate its members up to a 
better standard as soon as possible. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 271 

The Convention Music. — This has been discussed in 
a preceding chapter. Let us add the suggestion that 
the music of the convention should be such as to lead 
to better music in the societies when the Endeavorers 
return home. To that end, introduce only the simplest 
and most practical musical features. Especially look 
around the city and State and find the societies that 
are doing the best work musically, and get them to 
give little exhibits at the convention. One society may 
sing by itself. Another society may bring its orchestra. 
Another society may have a fine chorus or choir. 
Other societies may have good solo singers or players 
upon instruments. Some society may sing an an- 
tiphonal hymn or an echo hymn. Such an exhibit will 
be worth more to the practical work of the societies 
than the Hallelujah Chorus. 

Work in the Endeavorers. — Whenever possible 
during the convention, get the Endeavorers to do 
things. Have them rise and salute the flag. Have 
them read a hymn in concert before singing. Have 
them give the Chautauqua salute. Have them shake 
their own hands toward a speaker, Chinese fashion. 
Have them say " Amen " in acceptance of some earnest 
statement. Introduce into every session some feature 
calling for the participation of the delegates, like an 
open parliament. Make this a typical Christian En- 
deavor convention, where all take part. 

Model Meetings. — One way to bring in the En- 
deavorers is by a model meeting conducted by some 
society which has planned it carefully in advance. Its 
members will sit on the platform. It may be a model 
prayer meeting, or a model business meeting, or a 



272 UNION WORK 

model missionary meeting. Everything will be carried 
on as in a regular meeting, except that strict time limits 
will be observed. The demonstration will prove ex- 
ceedingly helpful, especially if the latest and best 
methods are worked in. 

Convention Dining-Halls. — If the convention meet- 
ing-place is too far from the lodging-places to allow 
the Endeavorers to return to them after the morning 
session, and if there are no good restaurants at hand, 
the ladies of some near-by church may be glad to earn 
some money and help on the work by conducting a con- 
vention dining-room. Food, excellent in quality and 
generous in amount, should be served at a reasonable 
price, and the entire arrangement should be announced 
on all the circulars of the convention. If possible, the 
hall should be large enough and the force of waiters 
sufficient to serve all the Endeavorers promptly at one 
sitting, leaving most of the noon period for other pur- 
poses. 

Overflow Meetings. — Experience will tell the presi- 
dent when an overflow meeting may be called for, and 
he should always have that contingency in mind. An 
overflow meeting planned hastily is a dismal affair, but 
when it is carefully thought out in advance it may be 
an even greater success than the meeting from which it 
is an offshoot. 

Much depends upon the leader. He is handling a 
more or less disappointed crowd, and he must know 
how to put it into a good humor and keep it there. The 
speakers may come from the main meeting, only in a 
different order, so as to admit of transporting them. 
There will be inevitable intervals which the leader will 
be prepared to fill in with singing and with little talks 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 273 

by himself and others. If an entirely different set of 
speakers is prepared for overflow meetings, the leader's 
course is simpler. Some of the State officers may be 
detailed for that duty ; especially the ministers among 
them, who will be readier speakers. It should not be 
forgotten that the overflow crowd is not likely to be 
made up largely of Christian Endeavorers, and there- 
fore the topics discussed should not be technical Chris- 
tian Endeavor topics, but the meeting should be adapted 
to a general audience. 

The Quiet Hour. — Most Christian Endeavor conven- 
tions lasting for more than one day provide for Quiet 
Hour sessions early in the morning, so that each day 
may start in the spirit of devotion. These Quiet Hour 
periods will be placed in charge of a man who is not 
only spiritual himself, but capable of arousing spiritual 
thoughts in others — which is a very different matter. 
If there is any other speaker he should have the 
same characteristics. The music should all be tender, 
thoughtful, and prayerful. Quiet must prevail, and 
the doors should be kept strictly closed during the 
prayers and talks. If you cannot get just the right 
speaker, it is always quite as well to hold a Christian 
Endeavor prayer meeting, or rather, a consecration 
meeting. 

Convention Evangelism. — The Quiet Hours of the 
convention may well be made evangelistic, calls for 
decision for Christ being made at the close of each 
session. But every convention may well have its 
evangelistic committee, whose duty it will be to plan 
in advance for evangelistic meetings in as great number 
and of as great variety as the local conditions seem to 
allow. There will be outdoor meetings, shop meetings, 



274 UNIOX WOEK 

meetings in department stores, and meetings as a part 
of the convention itself. Noon meetings may be held 
for business men. In the convention you may have an 
evangelistic meeting for men, another for women, and 
another for children, all simultaneous. 

Under the leadership of some experienced evangelist or 
pastor, the Endeavorers will join bands for evangelistic 
work of these different types. The noon hour is the best 
for most of these services, and the Endeavorers will join 
the bands very promptly after the close of the morning 
session — probably half an hour before it closes. An- 
nouncements will be made in advance at the different 
places where the meetings are to be held, so as to arouse 
a spirit of curiosity. There will be much bright sing- 
ing, the reading and repeating of parts of the Bible, 
many earnest, brief prayers, and much testifying of 
the pointed, practical, earnest kind which Endeavorers 
know so well how to give. At the close there will 
always be the call for Christian decisions. The En- 
deavorers will be late for luncheon, and may have to 
go without luncheon altogether, but they will have 
done great good, and will have received an impetus for 
this blessed work which will lead many of them to take 
it up with their home societies. 

The Bible-Study Period.— Many Christian Endeavor 
conventions set apart an hour a day for Bible study. 
When this is done, the work should be suggestive of 
what may be accomplished by the societies when the 
delegates return to them. It should be an exhibition 
of method rather than a course of lectures or series of 
recitations. If it is dry and formal, it will inspire a 
distaste for the Bible and for Bible study, and will thus 
defeat its own aims. Actual Bible study should be 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 275 

carried on, but only by way of illustration, only to 
show how the Endeavorers can study their Bibles to 
greater profit when they go home. If this aim is kept 
before the leader, his work will be most fruitful. 

The School of Methods. — Practically all our Chris- 
tian Endeavor conventions have well-developed schools 
of methods, a portion of each day set apart to the con- 
sideration of the freshest and best ways of doing things. 
Usually several sets of workers meet separately and 
simultaneously — the Junior superintendents, the Inter- 
mediate superintendents, sometimes the missionary 
workers, and always there is one section for the con- 
sideration of Christian Endeavor committee work of 
all kinds. These conferences take up numerous topics 
in turn, each being introduced by a bright and practical 
speaker, who is followed by a general discussion with 
questions. The whole is kept moving briskly by the 
leader, who may well be the State superintendent of 
Junior or Intermediate work, of missions, or of the 
other work under consideration. In these conferences 
the workers from different parts of the State find their 
best opportunity for the gathering and exchange of 
ideas. Ample time should be given them, and the full 
programme of each should be inserted in the convention 
programme. It is well to appoint for each conference 
a bright Christian Endeavor " reporter," who will tell 
at the next general session of the convention just the 
best points brought out in the conference he has at- 
tended. Each of these reports should be strictly 
limited to a minute — a mere whiff. 

Denominational Rallies. — Once during a convention 
it is pleasant and profitable to gather the Endeavorers 
into groups, each denomination by itself. If the com- 



276 UNION WOEK 

pariies are large, their members are proud that they 
contribute so much to Christian Endeavor and are eager 
to add to their number. When the groups are small, 
their members seek to learn how they may interest 
more of the young people and pastors of their churches. 
In these gatherings the denominational secretaries and 
other leaders get close to their young people, and find 
many opportunities of starting practical work. Much 
is said to encourage loyalty to the denominations, 
while at the same time, as is inevitable in a Christian 
Endeavor gathering, the spirit of Christian union is 
never absent. 

County Rallies. — Similarly it is good for the En. 
deavorers from the different counties to meet briefly 
during a convention, that their county leaders may dis- 
cuss with them the difficulties and hopes of the county 
unions, and that they may plan ways of reporting the 
convention throughout the counties and of doing ad- 
vance work in the coming year. These county rallies 
need not occupy more than an hour, and they can be 
made very profitable, though only two Endeavorers, in 
some cases, get together. 

The Convention Closes. — The closing session of the 
convention should be planned with a view to send the 
delegates home in a joyous mood, exalted to a high de- 
gree of purpose and of hope. Sometimes it is called a 
" purpose meeting " and sometimes a " consecration 
meeting," but the thought is the same. Often the con- 
vention ends with a strong sermon followed by a regu- 
lar Christian Endeavor testimony meeting, the En- 
deavorers telling what new desire and determination 
the convention has put into their lives. Do not leave 
this most important of all the meetings too much to 



THE MANAGEMENT OF A CONVENTION 277 

chance. Plan for it carefully, and put your strongest 
speakers into it, and yet leave enough room in it for 
spontaneous expressions from the delegates. Make it, 
to the young people themselves and to those present 
that are not members of our society, a glorious exhibi- 
tion of the spirit of Christian Endeavor. 



Class Work on Chapter XXVI 

The Leader's Questions 

Row should the presiding officer of a convention do his 
work ? 

What degree of promptness should be sought ? 

How strictly should the presiding officer keep to the 
programme ? 

Of what sort should the devotional exercises be ? 

Describe the ideal address of welcome. 

Who should be invited to the platform ? 

How should the convention business be conducted ? 

Describe a good convention open parliament ; a ques- 
tion-box ; an answer-box. 

What part should music play in the convention ? 

Describe a convention model meeting ; Bible-study 
period ; school of methods. 

How will overflow meetings be managed ? 

How will convention evangelism be carried on ? 

How will the convention close ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
A Profitable Convention. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that a Christian Endeavor convention should 
be limited to strictly Christian Endeavor subjects. 



CHAPTEE XXYII 
UNION PEOGEAMMES 

Tasteful Printing. — A convention programme need 
not cost much to be effective. Type is important, but 
ideas are more important. Colored ink is worth less 
than brilliancy of thought. The programme should be 
so printed that the plan of it stands out clearly and 
unmistakably, and when this is attained the less orna- 
ment the better. Firm, white paper, clear type, black 
ink, these are the essentials for a tasteful programme. 

The best of printing is cheaper than cheap printing, 
at whatever price. The Christian Endeavor pro- 
gramme is to be an advertisement of Christian En- 
deavor ; let it not by its fantastic appearance adver- 
tise a love for show or the spirit of exaggeration. 

Suggestive Programmes. — In fine type and sometimes 
in neat borders many suggestive bits may be introduced 
into the printed programme. You may put there facts 
about the union and about the Christian Endeavor 
movement. Our motto may appear, and the Christian 
Endeavor pledge. An inspiring Bible text may be 
shown in some distinctive type, the text which is to be 
the keynote of the convention. Under the names of 
the principal speakers you may tell something about 
them, especially the positions they hold, the books they 
have written, anything to introduce them to the audi- 
ence. Brief, pointed analyses of their addresses may 
also appear. A page of the programme may be oc- 
cupied with snappy items about the work of the union 

278 



UNION PEOGEAMMES 279 

and its committees. The names of the union officers 
and committees may well appear on every programme, 
with their addresses. Pictures of the principal speakers 
are often used, and sometimes a picture of the conven- 
tion meeting-place, and scenes in the convention city. 
Great pains should be taken to make the programme 
worth preservation, packed full not only of the 
temporary information regarding the convention, but 
also of facts of permanent value to all the En- 
deavorers that will receive it. It should be made a 
union document of prime importance. 

The Programme's Interspaces.— Every programme, 
except the very simplest programme for a single even- 
ing, should be carefully laid out as to time, the hour 
and minute at which each speaker is to begin being set 
down. Be equally careful to fix the time when each 
speaker is to end ! Usually the speaker takes every 
second of time up to the programme time of the next 
speaker, leaving no time for the introduction of that 
speaker, for singing, or for the inevitable unexpected 
announcements and other interruptions of programmes. 
A good plan therefore is to designate the time limit of 
each speaker in this way : 10 : 00 — 10 : 20. " Christian 
Endeavor Growing and Going." Eev. John Smith. 
Mr. Smith will then know that he is expected to stop 
at 10 : 20 even if the next item on the programme is set 
for 10 : 30. That ten minutes' leeway will prove the 
salvation of the programme, very likely, keeping it up 
to time, with the exhilaration that always comes from a 
well-ordered performance. 

Well-Knit Programmes. — A well-planned programme 
will have a unity that will be very clear in the mind of 



280 UNION WOEK 

the person who framed it, and will become clear in the 
minds of the delegates as the programme develops, if not 
immediately. This does not at all mean that all the 
addresses shall have the same general theme, though 
that is sometimes helpful, especially for meetings of 
only one session ; it means, however, that back of the 
programme is a well-thought-out purpose to do some- 
thing for the societies of the union — to make them more 
zealous for Christian Endeavor, perhaps, or to lead them 
to use better methods of work, or to fill them with the 
spirit of devotion. Whatever it is, the programme will 
be bent that way, and the main addresses will have that 
object. 

This thought is not to be insisted upon to the exclu- 
sion of the variety that may be needed in the work. 
Especially is a long programme of several days likely 
to become very monotonous if it centres too much upon 
one theme. The societies have many needs which such 
a programme ought to meet. Also we are to avoid in 
planning our programmes the artificial basing of them 
upon some word or phrase, such as " Trusting." For 
example, the following outline for an evening's ad- 
dresses would be a poor one : " Trusting in Prayer," 
" Trusting in Money," " Trusting in the Bible " ; be- 
cause, though the topics look akin, they are akin only 
in the matter of that one word. Make your programme- 
harmony a thought-unity and a unity of purpose, and 
get whatever outward uniformity comes natural and 
easy. 

Utilizing the Holidays.— If your union always has 
an Easter meeting, a Thanksgiving meeting, a Christ- 
mas or New Year's meeting, and a Fourth of July 
meeting, you will run in a deep rut ; but the religious 



UNION PROGRAMMES 281 

and patriotic holidays may well be observed once in a 
while by the union, if you can devise really helpful 
ways of doing it. For instance, you might hold a mid- 
night meeting on the last day of the old year, with 
impressive talks by the best speakers available. You 
may have a star meeting at Christinas time, with five 
speakers, each pointing out one aspect of Christ's char- 
acter, such as His wisdom, His power, His love, His 
humility, and His self -sacrifice. These nouns may be 
printed on the points of a large five-pointed star placed 
before the audience. 

Topics of the Times— Sometimes the union pro- 
gramme can properly introduce matters of current in- 
terest. If they have a religious aspect, and especially 
if they relate to any of the lines of work of the societies 
or the union, advantage may well be taken of the im- 
mediate interest in them. For example, if the public 
have been reading in their newspapers about some great 
revival, the time would be ripe for a meeting of the 
union to discuss what the societies could do for soul- 
winning. If a war is in progress, a peace meeting may 
be held. If a prohibition amendment is before the peo- 
ple, you will hold a union temperance meeting. Just 
before election you may hold a meeting for first voters, 
with instructions in the meaning of citizenship and the 
duties that accompany the suffrage. 

Something Different. — It pays for a Christian En- 
deavor union sometimes to consider in its meetings a 
topic as far removed as possible from the ordinary, just 
to stir things up a bit. Have a wise talk on the read- 
ing of biography. Have an illustrated lecture on birds. 
Have a travel talk. Have a debate, or an oratorical con- 



282 UNION WOEK 

test. Both of these plans are exceedingly valuable, and 
are seldom tried. These exterior themes are not to be 
used very often, of course, and never when they would 
take the place of some plainly needed subject ; but, intro- 
duced with discretion, they serve to interest some in 
the union that might not otherwise be interested, and 
they freshen up the meetings wonderfully. 

Pastors in the Programme. — While I believe there is 
too much of a tendency to fall back upon the over- 
worked pastors for the speakers in our union pro- 
grammes, and while I believe also that the fullest pos- 
sible use should be made of the Endeavorers themselves, 
yet the pastors of the union are to be the union speak- 
ers very often. When an invitation is given to a pastor 
to speak it is well, if your programme admits of it, to ask 
him if he has some topic of practical interest to young 
people on which he would like to speak. An address 
is usually far more forcible if the subject is not im- 
posed upon the speaker, but springs from his own ob- 
servation and thinking. If you have some special aim 
for the programme, tell the pastor what it is and ask 
him to name a theme in harmony with it. It is often 
a good plan to have many pastors speak, giving each 
only five minutes. If they all take the same subject, 
you will have that subject enforced in many ways, and 
so firmly fixed in the minds of the Endeavorers that 
they will never forget its teachings. 

Business in the Programme.— The business of the 
union, so far as it is necessary and wise to introduce it 
in a meeting to which the general public is invited, 
may be conducted so briskly and brightly and be made 
so fine an illustration of Christian Endeavor competence 



TJNIOK PEOGEAMMES 283 

that it will interest even those who are not Endeav- 
orers. Do away with long speeches on matters of de- 
tail. If officers are elected, and you want a speech 
from the new president, let it be a two-minute speech 
right from the heart. If an amendment to the consti- 
tution is to be voted on, have the reasons for it given 
with cannon-shot directness. If committee reports are 
to be made, boil out everything that is not interesting ; 
the King's business is always interesting, but explana- 
tions of why it was not done are deadly dull. In short, 
spend as much time and thought in preparing the busi- 
ness part of the programme as any other part, and it 
will have as much popular acceptance as any other part. 

Debates. — Once or twice a year introduce debates 
into the union programme. Any important religious 
or civic topic would be appropriate, any question of re- 
form, any important question of the conduct of life. 
You may debate, for example, the wisdom of endowing 
churches, or mission boards, or newspapers. You may 
debate the value of trade unionism. You may debate 
the relative value of the prayer-meeting and lookout 
committees. Many subjects for debate may be derived 
from the topics named below, but the best debates 
spring from current interests, and the subjects there- 
fore cannot be suggested here. 

Music in the Programme. — Young people like to 
sing. Give them programmes bubbling over with 
song. They are not quite so enthusiastic in their lis- 
tening to music, but some solo-singing will be enjoyed 
by them. If you have a union choir, as every union 
well may, yet regard every one present as a part of it 
and give them all a chance to sing. Look to the words 



284 UNION WORK 

of what you sing as well as the music. Uplifting 
words are set to as inspiring music as trifling words, 
and become just as popular if they once are given a 
chance. Do not be afraid to sing the same song over 
and over, and even the same stanza, till the music be- 
comes familiar. Go back to it again at the close of the 
meeting and sing it once more. But you cannot safely 
do this unless the words and music are really worth 
while. 

Prayer in the Programme. — If every Christian En- 
deavor programme needs much singing, so also does it 
need much prayer. There will be the opening prayer, 
asking for God's blessing on the meeting ; but there 
will also be other prayers often, scattered through the 
meeting. Sometimes it is appropriate and very help- 
ful to introduce a ten-minute period of intercession 
half-way through the programme of the morning or 
afternoon or evening. The address just before it will 
have led up to it, and the address following it will leap 
from it as from a spring-board. And for the close, 
every Christian Endeavor meeting most naturally ends 
with the laying of the whole matter before our Father 
in heaven. 

Consecration- Meeting Topics. — Often it is helpful to 
close a convention or even a one-session union meeting 
with a consecration meeting. This meeting will, of 
course, emphasize the main theme of the convention or 
of the session, and therefore a list of subjects can be 
only suggestive, but the following topics will hint at 
the nature of these consecration services : " Christ in 
Our Work " ; " Unselfish Labors for Christ and the 
Church " ; " The Purpose and Power of Prayer " ; 



UNION PEOGEAMMES 285 

"What Are You Going to Do about It?" "Begin 
Now"; "The Trust That Never Falters"; "Bible 
Promises That Are Dear to Me " ; " Hymns That Have 
Helped " ; " A Purpose Meeting " ; " Prayer for God's 
Guidance " ; " Now What for the Coming Year ? " 
" Getting a Future out of the Past." 

Popularizing Christian Endeavor Methods. — One 

great aim of our union meetings is to arouse the socie- 
ties to the need for some kind of Christian Endeavor 
work and give instructions for it. This work will often 
be something that has recently been introduced, and 
therefore examples cannot be given here ; but often it 
will be wise to emphasize some of the stand-bys of 
Christian Endeavor, and you can do it with such sub- 
jects as the following : 

The Pledge. — "What the Pledge Can Do and 
What It Cannot Do " ; " The Pledge, a Staff, not a 
Crutch"; "The Links of a Glorious Chain" (five- 
minute talks by a series of speakers, each taking a 
section of the pledge) ; " Power from the Pledge " ; 
" Hindrances in Pledge-Keeping, and How to Over- 
come Them." 

The Prayer Meeting. — " Prayer-Meeting Prep- 
aration " ; "A Prayer Meeting That Counts " ; " How 
to Enjoy the Prayer Meeting " ; " Prayer-Meeting 
Perplexities " ; " Prayer-Meeting Power " ; " Little 
Things That Spoil Our Meetings"; "Making the 
Meeting Go"; "Leaders That Lead"; "What Is 
Committed to the Prayer-Meeting Committee " ; 
" Sunday Prayers and Monday Cares." 

The Lookout Committee. — " Look Out for New 
Members " ; " Look Out for the Old Members " ; " How 
to Make the Most of Associate Members " ; " How to 



286 UNION WOEK 

Use the Honorary Members " ; " How to Vitalize the 
Pledge"; "Looking Out for Society Defects"; 
" Lookouts with Their Eyes Shut " ; " How Lookout- 
Committee Service Develops the Endeavorer." 

The Missionary Committee. — " What Is a Good 
Missionary Meeting ? " "Missionary Money and Men " ; 
" Why the Tithe ? " " How to Get Eeal Participation 
in the Missionary Meeting " ; " Those Fascinating Books 
on Missions " ; " The Why and the How of the Mission- 
Study Class." 

The Social Committee.— " Social to Save"; 
" What Games Shall We Play ? " " Eecreation That 
Keally Kecreates " ; " How to Transplant the Wall 
Flower " ; " Making Strangers Feel at Home " ; " The 
Christianity of Calling " ; " What Is a Genuine Chris- 
tian Endeavor Social ? " 

The Music Committee.—" How to Sing a Hymn " ; 
" What to Do with Those That Can Sing and Won't 
Sing"; "What Is Good Music?" "Getting the 
Devotional Spirit into Our Singing " ; " Christian En- 
deavor Singing for Christ " ; " How to Get Better 
Singing in Our Societies." 

The Flower Committee. — " A Fragrant Service " ; 
" Using Flowers as Eewards " ; " Christiau Endeavor 
Gardeners " ; " New Ideas in Decorations." 

The Sunday-School Committee. — " Christian 
Endeavor Helping the Sunday School " ; " The Sun- 
day School Helping Christian Endeavor " ; " Christian 
Endeavor at the Eight Hand of the Sunday-School 
Superintendent." 

The Good-Literature Committee. — " What is a 
Good Book ? " " How Our Societies Can Cultivate 
the Taste for Good Eeading " ; " The Wise Use of 
Newspapers " ; " The Dangers and Delights of Novel- 



UNIOST PROGRAMMES 287 

Beading " ; " Push Good Periodicals " ; " What to Do 
with Used Reading-Matter." 

The Temperance axd Citizenship Commit- 
tee. — " A Society Temperance Pledge " ; " How 
Christian Endeavor Can Aid the Great Reforms " ; 
" Training in Citizenship " ; " Work for a Better 
Town " ; " Purity and Power in Politics " ; " A Citizen 
Unafraid." 

The Executive Committee.—" The Executive 
Committee the Heart of the Society " ; "A Model 
Executive-Committee Meeting " ; " How to Keep the 
Society in Action " ; " An Executive Committee That 
Executes." 

The Officers. — " A President That Presides " ; 
" The Greatly Xeeded Vice-President " ; " The Record- 
ing Secretary's Pen " ; " Corresponding Secretaries 
That Correspond " ; " An Efficient Treasurer " ; " The 
Work of a Finance Committee " ; "A Helpful Pianist." 

The Junior Society. — " How to Help the Junior 
Superintendent " ; " Why a Junior Society in Your 
Church?" "The Work of a Junior Committee"; 
" The Joy and Reward of Work with Children." 

The Intermediate Society.—" When Is an Inter- 
mediate Society Xeeded ? " " Junior, Intermediate, 
Young People — a Splendid Trio." 

Other Christian Endeavor Organizations.— 
"Why Senior Societies?" "Why Mothers' So- 
cieties ? " " What Christian Endeavor Can Do for 
Prisoners " ; " Christian Endeavor on Ship-Board " ; 
"Office Christian Endeavor"; "Rural Christian En- 
deavor " ; "Family Christian Endeavor " ; " Correspond- 
ing Christian Endeavor Societies " ; " The Tenth 
Legion " ; " Comrades of the Quiet Hour " ; " The 
Christian Endeavor Peace Union " ; " Christian En- 



288 UNION WOEK 

deavor Life- Work Kecruits " ; " Christian Endeavor 
Experts." 

Patriotic Topics. — " The Fallacy of ' Our Country, 
Right or Wrong'"; "What We Owe to Our Father- 
land " ; " Every American a Debtor to America " ; 
" The Glory of Old Glory " (of course such topics will 
be framed suitably to the nation in which they are 
used) ; " False Fatriots and True " ; " Nationalism and 
Internationalism " ; " Robert Ross, the Christian En- 
deavor Martyr." 

Temperance Themes. — "Liquor Laws and Li- 
cense " ; " Progress and Prohibition " ; "A Saloonless 
Nation"; "A Saloonless World"; "Disease-Spread- 
ing Saloons " ; " The Strength of Total Abstinence " ; 
" Fallacies of Moderate Drinking " ; " Half- Way 
Temperance Measures and the Results " ; " The Tem- 
perance Wave " ; "A Seat on the Water Wagon." 

" For the Church." — " The Coming Triumph of 
Christianity " ; " Holding Up Our Pastor's Hands " ; 
" Our Duty and Privilege in the Church Prayer Meet- 
ing " ; " How to Have a Notable Sunday Evening 
Service " ; " Why Join the Church ? " " How to Be a 
Worth- While Church Member " ; " What We Joined 
When We Joined the Church." 

Soul-Saving Subjects. — " The Priceless Worth of 
a Single Soul " ; " Eternity — What Does It Mean to 
You ? " " How to Talk Religion " ; " Every Christian 
an Evangelist " ; " Bible-Based Evangelism " ; " How 
to Win Souls " ; " Be Ye Fishers of Men " ; " The Wise 
Soul- Winner " ; "Stars in Your Crown"; " Soul- 
Winning— You Can if You Will " ; " Are You Win- 
ning Your Associates ? " 

The Missionary Motive. — " The Wide Outreach 
of Our Religion " ; " Into All the World " ; " Begin- 



UKION PROGEAMMES 289 

ning at Jerusalem " ; " Heathen Here at Home " ; 
" The Ever-Shifting Home-Mission Field " ; " Home 
Missions around the Corner " ; " Home Missions at 
Your Back Door " ; " Go and Go-spel " ; " Dollar and 
Duty " ; " Missionary Christians and Missing Chris- 
tians " ; " Our Proxies, the Missionaries " ; " Our Re- 
sponsibility for the Mission Boards." 

Our Daily Life. — " Christian Endeavor Sun- 
shine " ; " Christian Endeavor Grit " ; " The Helping 
Hand— Is It Yours ? " " Kindness That Conquers " ; 
" The World Is Too Much with Us " ; " Treason to Our 
King"; "Little Sins and Big Sorrows"; "The Mis- 
takes of Youth and the Glories of Youth " ; " Christian 
Endeavor on Week-Days " ; "A Home in Which the 
Master Lives." 

Bible Themes.— " The Bible Library"; "How to 
Get the Most out of the Bible " ; " To Read the Bible 
Every Day " ; " The Man of One Book " ; " The Splen- 
dors of Holy Writ"; "The Man of Our Counsel"; 
" Ever-New Light out of the Old Book " ; " The Death- 
less Book" ; "Bible-Reading and Bible Living." 

The Sabbath. — "Modern Inroads upon the Sab- 
bath"; "Sabbath-Keeping and Strength"; "A Sab- 
bath Day's Journey " ; " The Puritan Sabbath and 
Prosperity"; "What Is the Heart of the Sabbath?" 
" Christian Endeavor a Sabbath-Defence Society " ; 
" A Sabbath Well Spent." 

Exalting Cheist. — " My Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ " ; " Christ the King of the Ages " ; " How to Add 

to Christ's Happiness " ; " Ye Are My Friends if " ; 

" For Christ " ; " What is a Christian ? " " Trusting in 
the Lord Jesus Christ for Strength " ; " I Will Come in 
to You and Sup with You " ; " The Indwelling Christ " ; 
" The Empowering Christ " ; " Jesus, My Friend." 



290 UNION WOEK 



Class Work on Chapter XXVII 

The Leader's Questions 

What part does printing play in a union programme ? 

What helpful general suggestions may be given in a 
programme ? 

How avoid an overcrowded programme ? 

How make a programme a unity ? 

How introduce topics of the times ? 

How utilize the pastors in the programmes ? 

What part should prayer have in a convention pro- 
gramme ? 

How popularize Christian Endeavor methods by our 
programmes ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
An Ideal Christian Endeavor Programme. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that a programme on one central theme is 
preferable to a programme with a variety of 
topics. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 
AN EFFICIENT UNION 

Why Union Standards of Efficiency ?— The Chris- 
tian Endeavor union is a complex thing, as this book 
makes plainly evident. Moreover, our unions vary 
greatly, no two unions doing precisely the same kinds 
of work. It is impossible to set up standards of effi- 
ciency for Christian Endeavor unions that will fully 
picture the ideal to be set before every union. 

And yet it is possible to lay down essentials for 
our union work, standards of excellence which are to 
be attained if a union is to be regarded as meeting its 
responsibilities. These standards will deal with the 
activities of the average Christian Endeavor union, and 
those which the average union may well undertake in 
addition to the work in which it is now engaged. Such 
a picture should prove an incentive to every union. It 
affords a means of determining the actual condition of 
the union, and sets before it goals for its achievement. 
All of this, if it is properly flexible, is well worth while. 
The portrait of the ideal Christian Endeavor union 
which is given here is presented with this purpose in 
view. 

Take Your Union Rating.— In starting on the use of 
these efficiency standards you will need to know just 
what your union has already attained. Let the execu- 
tive committee consider the standards, one after the 
other. If the standard has already been well reached, 
the full per cent for that standard will be credited ; if 

291 



292 UNION WOEK 

it has been reached only partly, the committee will 
estimate fairly the degree of success attained. For ex- 
ample, if you hold two union mass meetings during the 
year, but do not often treat definite Christian Endeavor 
topics, or introduce open parliaments, or call upon 
representatives of the societies, or consider the Effi- 
ciency Campaign in connection with the meetings, you 
may credit to the union four per cent of the eight per 
cent which the standard calls for. Add up the per 
cents thus obtained, and you will find what part of the 
100-per-cent total may properly be claimed by your 
union at the start. Then set out vigorously to raise to 
100 per cent the union's 30 per cent, or 50 per cent, 
or 70 per cent, or whatever it is. 

How to Start a Union Efficiency Campaign. — After 
the union executive committee has taken the rating of 
the union and formed its plans for the campaign, it will 
call a mass meeting of the union. At this meeting, first 
the union standards will be read, and explained, so far 
as they need explanation. Then a statement will be 
made of the union's rating and of the process by which 
it was obtained. Then the president, or some other 
officer, will announce what portions of the standards 
that have not yet been reached the union officers desire 
to seek first. You will not take up so many new lines 
of work as to confuse the union, but just what you can 
reasonably expect to accomplish within the next few 
months and with the force available. Having done 
this, you will go on to other points. But do not, 
either, undertake too little. Set before you enough 
goals to occupy the energies of all the union com- 
mittees and of all the active members of the union. 
After this statement, call upon some of the leading so- 



AN EFFICIENT UNION 293 

ciety presidents to give their opinions of the plan, hav- 
ing previously told them that they would be called 
upon. Throw the meeting open for expressions of 
opinion from all, and close with a very earnest meeting 
of consecration to the novel enterprise. 

Changing the Standards. — Most of the standards 
given below are those that all Christian Endeavor 
unions have at least begun upon, but some of the stand- 
ards are not applicable to all unions. One of these is 
No. 12. Only unions near some large body of water 
can do very much work for the sailors. Other unions 
will substitute for this standard some different kind of 
work, such as one of the enterprises suggested under 
No. 14, or the conduct of a village improvement society, 
or of a public playground. No. 13 does not apply to 
the few unions situated where there are no public insti- 
tutions, and other work must be put in place of this 
also. No. 22, prison work, can be taken up only by 
unions near a prison or jail ; but most unions, alas ! are 
so situated. Every union, however, is to feel free to 
remodel this schedule as it thinks best, keeping in mind 
the wisdom of a variety in work and of holding the 
standard high. This is merely one ideal out of many. 
The essential thing is to set up some worthy and definite 
ideal, and then strive toward it with all your might. 

Dividing the Work. — Twenty-eight standards will 
seem formidable when you look at them in the bulk, 
but the difficulty vanishes when you see how many 
committees the union has and how many efficient 
workers among whom the work may be divided. In 
fact, nearly all of the standards will at once be as- 
signed to union committees already existing or com- 



294 UNION WOEK 

mittees that you should form. The standards merely 
give the committees something definite and progressive 
to do. And you are to bear in mind that not all the 
standards are to be taken up at once, only those for 
which you have force, and those which appear to meet 
the present needs of the union. One step, and then 
another, goes a long way. 

Recording Union Progress. — A union thermometer is 
an excellent way to record the progress of the union in 
this Efficiency Campaign. Draw an enormous thermom- 
eter on a large sheet of paper, made by pasting together 
many sheets of manilla paper. Mark on the right-hand 
side one hundred degrees. Mark on the left-hand side 
of the thermometer the schedule of standards given be- 
low (with such changes as you may decide to make, if 
any) ; that is, you will place at the head, opposite the 
first eight degrees, the words, " Executive Committee," 
or " Congress," if you use that term. Bracket the first 
eight degrees, showing to which standard they belong. 
So continue, till all the twenty -eight standards are set 
down. Paste black paper in the tube of the thermom- 
eter, adding more with each degree of union progress. 
You will be able to run up the mercury twenty or 
thirty degrees at least, at the very start. When any 
standard has been attained and the mercury has risen 
over the proper number of degrees, print the name of 
that standard opposite the degrees on the right-hand 
side and bracket the proper number of degrees. At the 
same time you may mark with a red underscore, or in 
some other way, the same standard on the left-hand 
side, showing that it has been attained. 

Celebrating Union Advances.— Each step in the up- 
ward movement of the thermometer will be noted with 



AN EFFICIENT UNION 295 

joy in the union meeting, but after you have attained 
one hundred degrees you should hold a meeting of 
praise and purpose, gratitude for the work done and the 
new efficiency gained, and purpose to maintain the posi- 
tion } T ou have reached and to reach even a higher posi- 
tion. You may well make up the programme of the 
meeting by giving five minutes to each committee 
chairman or officer in charge of a branch of the 
campaign, who will tell how the work was done and 
what results thus far may be noted. The closing ad- 
dress will be of congratulation for the past and exhorta- 
tion to further advance in the future. It may well be 
by some pastor, and it will be followed by a consecra- 
tion meeting in which the members of the union will 
pledge themselves to greater zeal and will suggest still 
farther advance steps which the union may make. 
Here now are the 

Standards for a Christian Endeavor Union- 
Efficiency Campaign 

1. The Executive Committee or Congress. — Regular 
meetings, not fewer than six a year. Average attend- 
ance of seventy-five per cent of the officers, and, if you 
have the congress plan, of fifty per cent of the society 
presidents and other society representatives. [4%, to 
be counted at the end of four meetings.] At each 
meeting some definite work to be laid out for each 
committee of the union for the coming month. [4%, to 
be counted at the end of four months.] 8%. 

2. The Mass Meetings. — At least two union mass 
meetings to be held during the year. Definite Chris- 
tian Endeavor topics to be treated. Frequent open 
parliaments to be introduced. Representatives of the 
societies to speak often. Subjects of the meetings to 



296 UNION WOEK 

be harmonious with the Efficiency Campaign. [Per 
cent to be counted when two meetings have been 
held.] 8%. 

3. The Attend mice. — An average representation of 
three-fourths of all the societies in the union at the 
mass meetings. [3%, to be counted after three meet- 
ings.] An average attendance of at least one-fourth of 
the total membership of the union, not counting those 
present that are not Endeavorers. [3%, to be counted 
after three meetings.] 6%. 

Jf. Committee Conferences. — One conference a year 
to be held for each committee found in the local so- 
cieties. The conference to occupy an evening, and to 
be addressed by an expert in the work of that com- 
mittee, followed by discussion. [To be counted after 
one conference for each committee has been held or 
definitely arranged for. These conferences may be 
simultaneous.] 6%. 

5. New Societies. — A definite effort to be made by 
the union lookout committee to plant a Young People's 
society of Christian Endeavor, a Junior society, an 
Intermediate society, and a Senior society in every 
church where there is a chance of acceptance. This 
effort to include personal interviews with pastors, the 
use of United Society literature, and correspondence 
with United Society officers for the removal of mis- 
understandings. [4%, to be counted after each church 
has been approached.] The increase of the number of 
societies in the union by 10% a year. [3%, to be 
counted after one year's increase has been made.] 7%. 

6. Finances. — A union budget to be formed at the 
beginning of the year and definitely brought before 
the societies with a request for contributions. [1%, 
counted after the budget is presented.] Societies that 



AN EFFICIENT UNION 297 

do not send in their pledges to be visited personally by 
the treasurer or some member of the finance commit- 
tee. [1%, counted after the first visit to all the so- 
cieties.] Every society making some contribution to 
the union treasury. [2%, counted after each society 
has contributed once.] 4%. 

7. Officers' Visitation. — A definite schedule to be 
formed for the visitation of the societies by the officers 
of the union and the committee chairmen, aided by the 
committee members, each trying to interest the so- 
cieties in the branch of union work committed to his 
care. [Counted when the plan has been in operation 
three months.] 3%. 

8. Christian Endeavor Helps. — The union to have 
a United Society Committee, to act as agents for 
The Christian Endeavor World and the many help- 
ful books and pamphlets published by the United So- 
ciety. This committee to visit the societies with sam- 
ples, urge the use of these helps, and take orders, 
except when the society has such an agent. [2% when 
the committee is appointed, 4% when it has visited all 
the societies once.] 6%. 

9. Reports. — Full annual reports to be received 
from all the societies by the union secretary. [1%, 
after the first meeting at which this is true.] Written 
reports to be rendered by all the union officers and 
committees at each executive committee or congress 
meeting. [1%, counted after three such meet- 
ings.] 2%. 

10. Pastoral Counsellor. — The union to have a pas- 
toral counsellor, to represent the pastors on the execu- 
tive committee. His advice to be obtained on all im- 
portant matters. His aid to be gained in presenting 
the society to churches and pastors that have not yet 



298 UNION WORK 

adopted it. [Counted after the pastoral counsellor has 
accepted the post.] 2%. 

11. Junior and Intermediate Work. — This work to 
be promoted by union superintendents, aided by strong 
committees. [1%, after superintendents and commit- 
tees have been appointed.] Conferences of Junior and 
Intermediate workers to be held at least four times a 
year, and a Junior and Intermediate rally once a year. 
[2%, counted after two conferences and one rally, the 
other conferences being definitely planned.] 3%. 

12. Floating Work. — If the union is on or near any 
body of water traversed by ships, a Floating commit- 
tee to be formed, to lead the societies in work for the 
sailors. Meetings to be held on boat and on shore, 
socials to be given the sailors, literature to be dis- 
tributed among them, correspondence to follow them 
up when practicable. [Counted when the work is set 
on foot. If the work is not practicable, substitute 
some other.] 2%. 

13. Institutions. — The lookout committee to seek 
to organize Christian Endeavor societies or conduct 
regular services in public institutions, such as old 
ladies' homes, poorhouses, and asylums. These socie- 
ties to be aided in every way after they are formed. 
[Counted after the work in some institution is well 
begun.] 2%. 

H. Philanthropies. — The union to undertake at 
least one form of philanthropic work, such as the 
giving of country weeks, the conduct of a flower and 
fruit mission, fresh-air work, the establishment of a 
free labor bureau, the organization and distribu- 
tion of charity. [Counted after one such work is 
started.] 3%. 

15. Good literature. — The union to establish a 



AN EFFICIENT UNION 299 

good-literature exchange, for the collection from the 
societies of good books and periodicals, and sending 
them where they will be put to good use. [Counted 
when the exchange is established.] 2%. 

16. Bulletin. — A union bulletin to be printed, if 
only on a manifolder, and sent to every society or to 
every Endeavorer in the union. Three times a year is 
suggested as the right frequency. The bulletins will 
give in bright, condensed form just the facts about 
the union work that every Endeavorer should know. 
[Count the per cent with the second number.] 2%. 

17. Efficiency Campaign. — An Efficiency Campaign 
committee to be formed, to visit each society and ex- 
plain the Campaign, introducing the sets of Efficiency 
Tests, and setting the Campaign on foot. [Count 
\c/ when the committee is formed.] This committee 
to organize and conduct at least one class a year for 
training "Christian Endeavor Experts." [2% when 
the class begins to meet.] 3%. 

18. Inter society Visitation. — A schedule to be 
formed in accordance with which each society will 
send a delegate every prayer-meeting night to some 
other society until all the societies have been visited by 
each society. The delegates to speak at the society 
visited, and to report to their own society all the good 
ideas gained. [Count when the plan is put into opera- 
tion.] 3%. 

19. Quiet-Hour Work. — The union to have a Quiet- 
Hour committee of one or more, to visit each society 
for the promotion of the Quiet Hour, and the addition 
of new Comrades of the Quiet Hour to the United So- 
ciety list. [Count when the committee begins its 
visits.] 2%. 

20. Tenth legion Work. — The union to have a 



300 UNION WOEK 

Tenth Legion committee of one or more, to visit each 
society for the promotion of the Tenth Legion, and the 
addition of new tithe-payers to the United Society 
enrolment. [Count when the committee begins work.] 

2%. 

21. Civic and Temperance Work. — A citizenship 
committee to be formed for the promotion of pledge- 
signing, temperance campaigns, civic-study classes, and 
all other good-citizenship work. The committee to see 
that similar committees are formed in all the societies, 
and that the meetings on temperance and civic topics 
are well conducted. [Count when the committee be- 
gins work.] 3%. 

22. Prison Work. — A prison committee to be 
formed, for the purpose of organizing a Prison Chris- 
tian Endeavor society, if that is feasible ; and in any 
event, of organizing the Endeavorers for doing evan- 
gelistic work in all prisons and jails that are accessible. 
[Count when the committee begins work.] 3%. 

23. Evangelistic Work. — A union evangelistic com- 
mittee to be formed, for the promotion of study classes 
in personal work in the societies, and the formation in 
the societies of personal workers' bands. [Count 2% 
when the committee begins work.] These bands to be 
formed in at least one-fourth of the societies. [Count 
1% when this has been attained.] 3%. 

24>. Bible Study. — Where the pastoral counsellor 
approves, a union Bible-study course to be held during 
part of the year, for inspiration in the personal devo- 
tional use of the Bible, and for the training of Chris- 
tian workers and Sunday-school teachers. [Count when 
the course opens. If the work is not feasible, substi- 
tute something else.] 3%. 

25. Missionary Studies. — The union missionary com- 



AN EFFICIENT TOILET 301 

mittee to form a union normal class for the training of 
leaders for the mission-study classes of the local socie- 
ties. One text-book a year to be taken up, or two, one 
home and one foreign. [Count when the class is 
formed.] 3%. 

26. Social Work. — The union social committee to 
hold at least two union socials of various kinds during 
the year. One of these may be an outdoor excursion. 
One of them may be a union entertainment. The work 
of establishing playgrounds for the children to be car- 
ried on, if there is need for it in your community. 
[Count when the socials are held.] 3%. 

27. Music. — A union chorus to be formed, which 
will hold regular meetings for practice as frequently 
as is necessary, and will aid in the union meetings. 
[Count when the chorus begins its work.] 3%. 

28. Press IVork. — A union press committee to be 
formed, which will establish branches in each society, 
and will supply Christian Endeavor news regularly to 
the local papers, sending the most interesting and im- 
portant news also to the denominational and Christian 
Endeavor papers. [Count when the committee begins 
its work.] 3%. 



Class Work on Chapter XXVIII 

The Leader's Questions 
Why should we set up standards of union efficiency ? 
How is a union rating to be taken ? 
How start a union Efficiency Campaign ? 
How far may a union change the standards ? 
How divide the work of the Efficiency Campaign ? 



302 UNION WOEK 

How record the progress of the union in the campaign ? 
How celebrate the conclusion of the campaign ? 
Which of the Efficiency Standards for unions seem to 
you to be most important ? 

Topic for a Talk or Essay 
The Value of Standards. 

Subject for a Class Debate 
Resolved, that our union should embark on an Efficiency 
Campaign. 



Index 



Addresses of welcome . 
Advance of union celebrated . 
Advertising of a union . 
Amusements worth while 

Badges and banners 
Bible-study : books for the class 
Bible-study class : how conducted 
Bible-study : cost of the course 
Bible-study course concluded . 
Bible-study in unions 
Bible-study : length of the course 
Bible-study period 
Bible-study : subject of the course 
Boarding-house bureaus . 
Books gathered up 
Budget .... 

Children's part in convention . 

Chorus of the union 

Christian Endeavor departments in secular papers 

Christian Endeavor in the religious weeklies 

Christian Endeavor methods popularized 

Christian Endeavor on mission fields 

Christian Endeavor World agency 

Church bulletin boards . 

Churches served with union music 

Church invitations 

Church prayer-meeting campaign 

Church-work committee 

303 



PAGE 
266 
294 
182 
152 

252 

137 
137 

*35 
138 
132 
,36 

274 
136 
21 1 
190 
68 

258 
164 
179 
179 
285 
119 
188 
105 
168 
104 
106 



304 



ISTDEX 



Church workers' conference . 

Citizenship and temperance conferences 

City missions 

Civic and temperance work 

Civic Leagues 

Civic studies 

Civic study classes 

Civic themes in union meetings 

Civic work under advice 

Clippings 

Committee conferences . 

Community served with union 

Concerts of the union 

Conference committee . 

Conference essays 

Conference evening 

Conference speakers 

Consecration-meeting topics 

Constitution of a district or county union 

Constitution of a local or city union 

Constitution of a State union . 

Consultations in union organization 

Convention advertised . 

Convention automobiles 

Convention business 

Convention churches placarded 

Convention closes 

Convention collections . 

Convention committee . 

Convention delegates 

Convention devotional exercises 

Convention dining-halls 

Convention evangelism . 

Convention excursion 

Convention financed 

Convention greetings 

Convention invitations to the platform 



INDEX 



305 



Convention lodging question 
Convention management 
Convention money raising 
Convention music 
Convention music prepared 
Convention planned 
Convention : prayer for it 
Convention presiding officer 
Convention press service 
Convention programme adhered to 
Convention promptness . 
Convention report 
Convention reunions 
Convention speakers chosen 
Convention speakers entertained 
Convention speakers obtained 
Convention speakers paid 
Conventions prepared for and utilized 
Convention summaries . 
Corresponding and recording secretaries 
County rallies 

Debates . . . 

Debating clubs 
Decision meetings of union 
Denominational committees 
Denominational rallies 
District conferences 
Dues or assessments 

Eating together 
Echo meetings 
Efficiency campaign started 
Efficiency campaigns 
Efficiency work divided 
Efficient union 
Employment bureau 



253 

264 

73 
271 

257 
245 
251 
264 
259 
265 
264 
262 
156 

248 
246 
248 
245 
260 

48 

276 

283 
144 
116 
102 

275 
244 

67 

'54 
261 

292 
97 
293 
291 
211 



306 



INDEX 



Entertainments 

Evangelism in the societies 

Evangelistic committee . 

Evangelistic-committee conference 

Evangelistic work in unions 

Executive committee and union mass meetings 

Executive committee in the societies 

Executive committee : its size 

Executive-committee meeting essentials 

Executive committee of State union 

Executive committee of union 

Executive committee selling Christian Endeavor literat 

Executive-committee speakers 

Executive-committee special meetings 

Executive-committee supper .... 

Executive committee : time and place of meetings 
Excursions ....... 

Expert classes ...... 

Field secretaries' salaries .... 

Field secretary aiding the unions 

Field secretary and the department heads . 

Field secretary and United Society of Christian Endeavor 

Field secretary arousing interest in the State convention 

Field secretary arousing interest in the State union 

Field secretary of a union 

Field-secretary qualifications . 

Field secretary raising his own salary 

Field secretary working with other officers 

Field secretary's correspondence 

Field secretary's difficulties 

Field secretary's journeys 

Field secretary's rewards 

Finance committee 

Finances of unions 

Financial appeals combined 

First mass meeting of a union 



INDEX 



307 



First months of a union . 

First officers of a union . . . 

Foreigners aided by unions 

Go-to-church Sunday .... 

" Help-our-Church " movement 

Hospital committee .... 

Hospital committee and the nurses . 

Hospital committee helping the convalescents 

Hospital committee in the contagious wards 

Hospital conversations with the sick 

Hospital gifts to the sick 

Hospital singing 

Hospital use of holiday times . 

Hospital use of papers and books 

Hospital work in unions 

Hymn-books of the union 

Intermediate societies and the union 
Inter-society visitation 
Introduction committee advertised 
Introduction committee at work 
Introduction committees 



13 

12 

231 

106 

105 
223 
229 
229 
229 
227 
228 
224 
228 
225 
223 
163 

203 

95 
209 
209 
158, 208 



Junior and Intermediate superintendents of the State union . 205 
Junior and Intermediate unions . . . . 195 

Junior and older unions : how related . . . 195 

Junior committees . . . . . . . .199 

Junior exhibits . . . . . . .199 

Junior intervisitaticn . . . . . . .198 

Junior outings ........ 198 

Juniors and Intermediates at the State convention . . 205 

Juniors in the meetings of the older union . . .201 

Junior superintendents' conferences . . . . .196 

Junior superintendents of the union ..... 204 



308 



INDEX 



unior union at work for temperance 
unior union chorus 
unior union literature agency . 
unior union lookout committee 
unior union ministries . 
unior union organized . 
unior union public meetings . 
unior union study classes 

Libraries .... 

Life Work Recruits 

Literature-committee conference 

Literature committee of a union 

Literature exchange 

Lookout-committee conferences 

Lookout committee co-operating with other committees 

Lookout committee furnishing leaders 

Lookout committee getting reports from societies 

Lookout committee reviving dead societies 

Lookout committees of county, district, and Stat 

Lookout committees of unions 

Lookout committees organized 

Lookout committee surveying the field 

Lookout work in the union meetings 



Map of union 
Membership campaigns 
Ministers' meetings 
Missionaries supported . 
Missionary committee . 
Missionary-committee conferences 
Missionary entertainment 
Missionary exhibit 
Missionary giving 
Missionary information bureau 
Missionary library 
Missionary meetings circulated 



INDEX 



309 



Missionary meetings of union 

Missionary reading contests 

Missionary socials 

Missionary speakers' bureau 

Missionary superintendents of district and State 

Mission-study classes 

Mistakes made by new unions 

Model meetings . 

Money-raising devices . 

Money-raising : its educative value 

Mothers' meeting 

Mothers' societies 

Musical contests . 

Musical loans 

Music committee 

Music-committee conference 

Music in a union 

Music in societies improved 

Music in the conventions 

Music in the programme 

Music in the State union 

Music in the union meetings 

Neighborhood missionary meetings 

Neighborhood " sings " 

Neighborhood socials 

News needs of The Christian E?ideavor World 

New societies : openings for . 

Non- Christian Endeavor societies in unions 



Open parliaments 

Orchestra of the union . 

Organizing campaigns . 

Organizing Christian Endeavor unions 

Organizing new societies 

Outdoor evangelism 

Overflow meetings 



116 
118 
117 

"3 

123 

121 

13 

271 

69 

66 

109 

201 

167 
165 

160 
161 

160 
162 
170 
283 
169 
166 

117 
162 
156 

180 



268 
165 

7 

90 

129 

272 



310 



INDEX 



Pageants ...... 

Paper published by a union . 
Papers and magazines gathered up . 
Pastoral advice regarding Bible study 
Pastoral counsellor in the executive committee 
Pastoral counsellors .... 

Pastors and churches interested in Junior work 

Periodicals promoted 

Personal evangelism classes 

Personal workers' bands 

Petitions and pledges 

Pledge of union work . 

Police cheered by unions 

Poor people aided by our unions 

Prayer in the programme 

Preliminary meeting of a new union 

President advocating the work of the union 

President and the larger work 

President conducting the union business meetings 

President defending the union from criticism 

President inspiring his fellow officers 

President in the executive committee 

President in touch with other unions 

President managing a convention 

President of a union 

President out of office . 

President planning a convention 

President preparing a convention 

President presiding over the mass meetings 

President stimulating and guiding the committees 

President training a successor 

President visiting the societies 

Press committee getting into the papers 

Press committee of convention 

Press committee organized 

Press committee preparing the copy 

Press-committee promptness and timeliness 



INDEX 



311 



Press-committee scrap-books . 
Press-committee topics . 
Press-committee work systematized 
Press committee writing the news 
Printing of the programmes . 
Printing tasteful . 
Prison Christian Endeavor society- 
Prison Endeavorers aided 
Prison Endeavorers : their work 
Prisoners discharged 
Prison observance of special seasons 
Prison society : the first meeting 
Prison work in a union . 
Prison work organized . 
Programmes 

Programmes " different " 
Programme's interspaces 
Programmes introducing business 
Programmes suggestive . 
Programmes using the pastors 
Programmes utilizing the holidays 
Programmes well-knit . 
Progress of union recorded 
Publicity in union work 

Question-boxes and answer-boxes 
Question conference 
Quiet Hour at convention 

Rating of the union 

Reading bulletins 

Reading courses . 

Reception committee 

Recognition of other organizations 

Recreation rooms 

Registration 

Religious census . 



182 

"74 

i74 
176 

52 
278 
217 
218 
218 
220 
220 
216 
214 
214 
278 
281 
279 
282 
278 
282 
280 
279 
294 
172 

243, 269 
237 
273 

291 
192 
193 

2 54 
268 
158 

255 
104 



312 



INDEX 



Reporting bands . 
Rescue missions . 
Round robins 

Sailors aided by unions 

School of methods 

Schools and our unions 

Scrap-book of union 

Secretaries' conference 

Secretary a reference bureau 

Secretary helping the president 

Secretary of a union 

Secretary of State union 

Secretary's correspondence 

Secretary's notifications 

Secretary's records 

Secretary's reports to the union 

Shop meetings 

Singing school 

Social atmosphere improved 

Social-committee conferences 

Social committee in the mass meeting 

Social committee of a union 

Socials in a union 

Socials of a union 

Society choirs 

Song for the churches 

Standards changed 

Standards for a Christian Endeavor 

Standards of efficiency . 

State Christian Endeavor campaigns 

State Christian Endeavor paper 

State hymns 

State president 

Statistics of union 

Success of a new union 

Sunday schools aided by unions 



IXDEX 



313 



Superintendents' round robins 



20 1 



Table conference 

Teacher of union Bible-study class . 

Temperance and citizenship committee 

Temperance work in a union 

Tentative constitution of a union 

Tent meetings 

Tithing crusades . 

Topics of the times 

Tracts 

Treasurer of union 

Treasurers' conference 

Treasurers of county and State unions 

Treasurer's reports 



237 

J 34 

140 

H7 

1 1 

130 

107 
281 

*93 
67 

7" 

72 

70 



Unions organized by whom ? 
Unions organized where ? 
United Society agency . 
Ushers 



9 

7 

188 

256 



Vice-president heading the lookout committee 
Vice-president of a union 
Vice-president of State union 
Vice-president of World's Union 
Vice-president overseeing the committees 
Vice-president presiding 
Vice-president's conference . : 

Vice-president visiting the societies 
Village Improvement Societies 



43 
42 

45 

45 
43 
44 
44 
44 
; 4 6 



Work in the Endeavorers 



27 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



029 787 274 6 



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